DESCRIPTION:
Leopold Feuerstein, Chicago, Illinois, an unusual moving eye shelf or mantel clock, tall chestnut and walnut case with molded base, sides, and top, gabled front with central composition mask, glazed, full length door revealing the roman numeral white enamel dial and full length chromolithograph of a woman, standing and with her right elbow resting on a pedestal, her left shading her eyes, head turned and looking off into the distance, and aperture for switch at her right, 8 day time and strike movement with inverted U shaped pendulum suspension frame, allowing the rod to receive impulse and animate the eyes, interior of back door with handwritten inscription "Patented Nov. 9 1886 Leopold Feuerstein 701 S. Halsted St"
CONDITION:
case refinished, composition ornaments at top corners with minor losses and one absent, dial with fading and chips, bezel missing, lithograph with cracks and tears where the mechanism for the moving eyes is mounted, switch to silence striking detached but present, movement and gong mounting holes moved, ticks and strikes, would benefit from service. A copy of the patent document is included with the lot. Leopold Feuerstein is listed as a jeweler at 701 Halsted St. in the 1876 edition of "The Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago". While the idea of a moving eye clock was not original to Feuerstein, his patent states that the "object of my invention is to afford a device which shall serve as an accessory attachment to the ordinary forms of pendulum clocks, by which and observer shall be enabled to determine at a glance whether or not the clock is going..". There is no mention of the strike/silent switch in the patent. The patent document also states that the drawing and specification were not accompanied by a model, and so this may have been Feuerstein's prototype.
ESTIMATE:
$300
-
$400
PRICE SOLD:
$350
CIRCA: 1885
DIMENSIONS: 26.75in x 11.75in x 5.25in
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DESCRIPTION:
Edward P. Baird Clock Co., Plattsburgh, New York, NY, "Jolly Tar Pastime Old Honesty Plank Rd", advertising wall clock with an 8 day, time only, spring driven brass movement in a painted mixed wood case with papier mache doors displaying embossed advertising including the "TOBACCO MAN'F'RS LOUSIVILLE, KY." on the inner ring of lower door, "COMPLIMENTS OF JOHN FINZER & BRO'S" on the outer ring of lower door and "BOOT JACK" and "FIVE BROS" on medallions below papered metal dial.
CONDITION:
The case is in very good condition with some original finish and original paint on the paper mache lettering on the two doors and medallions. The movement is signed "Made by Seth Thomas Clock Co., for Edward. P. Baird & Co., NY and Montreal".The dial has age but shows wear and has lifted from the dial pan in several areas. The hands are original. Both door glasses are original. The lower glass has been painted on the back side to better highlight the lettering on the glass.
ESTIMATE:
$1200
-
$1600
PRICE SOLD:
$1000
DIMENSIONS: 30.25in x 18.5in x 4.5in
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