John Thwaites for Allam & Caithness c.1803 Stock No.3208

// SOLD //

John Thwaites for Allam & Caithness c.1803

An extremely unusual and rare wall clock, the 12” diameter silvered and engraved brass dial signed ‘Allam & Caithness, London’. The square plated double fusee movement with original verge and crownwheel escapement is by J Thwaites, and is numbered 3173, dating it to 1803. The mahogany drum case is of tapered form, and has rear and bottom doors only, with a single sound fret above XII, a turned dial surround, carrying a moulded brass bezel with integral lock.

Stock No.3208

Allam & Caithness succeeded Allam & Clements and are recorded working at 119 Bond Street, London, 1800 – 1805. They must have been very successful, as many fine clocks are recorded being made by them in their short five - year partnership. John Thwaites, son of Aynsworth Thwaites, was working from around 1761, and became the first wholesale maker, making both movements alone and entire clocks for other clockmakers. In 1814 he entered partnership with George Jeremiah Reed and the firm of Thwaites and Reed continued throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century.