TWO-SESSION IMPORTANT CLOCK AUCTION NOV. 8 AT FONTAINE'S ABOUT 450 RARE, VINTAGE CLOCKS

[in...@fontaineauction.com]

ABOUT 450 RARE, VINTAGE CLOCKS, INCLUDING AN E. HOWARD ASTRONOMICAL
#61, WILL BE SOLD AT A TWO-SESSION IMPORTANT CLOCK AUCTION NOV. 8 AT
FONTAINE'S

(Pittsfield, Mass.) - Over 450 vintage collectible clocks – many of
them exceedingly rare and museum-quality pieces, to include an E.
Howard astronomical #61 – will be sold in a two-session sale slated
for Saturday, Nov. 8, by Fontaine's Auction Gallery, beginning at 10
a.m. The sale will be held at Fontaine's spacious showroom facility,
located at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, Mass.
A Discovery Session will kick off the action, featuring over 200
uncatalogued clocks. Bidders must be in person, at the gallery, to
preview and bid on these lots, as they are uncatalogued and will be
sold as-is. The Main Catalog Session, with about 250 cataloged clocks,
will be sold in numbered order, starting at 1 p.m. These lots may be
bid on at the gallery; by phone or absentee bid; or via the Internet.
Internet bidding will be facilitated through multiple platforms --
Proxibid, eBay Live Auctions and a new player in the online bidding
arena, www.auctionnetwork.com. Auctionnetwork.com will broadcast live
streaming video of the auction, in high-definition, and provide
viewers with real-time, interactive bidding, as well as exclusive lot
previews and many emotional stories associated with them.
In June, Fontaine's auctioned a magnificent E. Howard & Co. #61
astronomical floor regulator, consigned from an estate in Baltimore
and never before offered for sale, for $195,500. It was the top lot of
the sale and the second highest amount ever paid for a Howard #61
astronomical regulator. “The one we're selling in the November auction
is even nicer,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine's Auction Gallery.
The Howard clock was made in 1874 and probably then sold for $800. At
the Nov. 8 sale, it is expected to easily sail past the $100,000 mark.
The case is carved walnut, with burled trim in excellent condition.
All case parts are original and in excellent condition. The movement
has a Graham dead beat escapement with red ruby pallets. The clock has
outstanding maintaining power and a full Geneva stop.
Other clocks expected to do well in the sale follow. Most are from
the Main Catalog Session.
• French Empire swinging lyre mantle clock – Ebonized lyre case has
applied gilt brass mounts, with cornucopias of fruit and flowers on
the arms. In very good overall condition, with repaired crutch.
• E.N. Welch jewelers regulator – Fantastic and massive, this clock
has a nice set of hands with a good sweep second hand. Other features
include a nice porcelain dial and French brass movement.
• E. Howard & Co. custom-made fancy gallery clock – Made to be built
into the upper gallery of a church or public building. Similar to the
E. Howard Model 140. Mahogany case. Needs some TLC.
• French industrial beam engine automated clock – Case features a beam
engine with a long cross at the top, large flywheel in the back and
many moving mechanics. Movement is operated separately.
• French figural 3-piece gargoyle musical clock – Polychrome pelter
case shows a large winged gargoyle in red robe and hood, sitting on a
base drum playing music with a mallet and a cymbal.
• Waterbury “Topsey” blinking eye clock – Cast iron clock with a nice,
original 2.75-inch dial and good hands. Eyes and movement are
original. Appears to have original paint; in fine condition.
• Birge & Fuller wagon spring “double steeple” mantle clock – A nice
example of a wagon spring clock, with unsigned brass 30-hour time and
strike “lyre” style brass movement with wagon spring.
• Elmer O. Stennes lyre banjo clock – Has a clean 6.75-inch dial and
hands with a typical brass 8-day weight driven movement with original
weight. Reverse painted glass behind wood “lyre” throat.
• E. Howard & Co. Model #72 wall regulator – Time-only clock with
Graham dead beat escapement. The case is black walnut, 5-foot, 4
inches tall, with 12-inch dial. Typical weight has gilt paint on it.
• Ithaca No. 7 hanging cottage calendar clock – Good original dials
have slight imperfections. Has an 8-inch calendar dial and 7-inch time
dial. Clock has good hands and all of its finials and drops.
• Ansonia “antique hanging” clock – Has all decorative trimmings
intact, good original weights, pendulum bob and inset decorative
panel. Great hands and a nice 9.5-inch dial. Mahogany case.
• French figural bronze and marble annular clock – Features two
figural nude women embracing a tall torchier, reaching up to light it
with small torches in their right hands. Very nice and clean.
• Seth Thomas “Regulator #7” wall clock – The shorter version of the
#7. Has a nice 11-inch dial with an original surface and original
hands. Has a good pendulum bob with typical brass weight.
• Gilbert “Maranville” office drop calendar – This clock has a
Maranville patent calendar with an original double dial. Has a 14-inch
dial, good hands, a good calendar hand and good pendulum bob.
• Ithaca “No. 2 Bank” calendar clock – Has good original dials and
good hands. The 61-inch-tall case is in very nice condition, with a
soft dark surface. Good upper and lower dials and calendar hand.
• French cloisonne repeater carriage clock – An 8-day time, strike and
alarm brass cloisonne clock, about 4 inches wide by 8 inches tall. Has
a good quality French brass movement and solid platform.
• Charles Frodsham London boxed chronometer – Outer wood box appears
to be original and is marked in chalk on the inside “1813.” Inner box
has lock and key. Runs, but not for a full 24 hours.
• Austrian astronomical wall regulator with Mean & Sidereal time –
Period 1840 rosewood case has glazed door glass and side panels. The
white enamel 9-inch dial is signed “D. Endler in Prag.”
• French gilt bronze and porcelain figural annular clock – Top shows a
pair of figural putti, one with wings, holding a torch and flowers,
leaning on a small sphere. Below is a porcelain annular dial.
• Gilt bronze French figural annular mantle clock – Two figural winged
putti standing on a white marble platform with bronze mounts,
balancing the clock case on a marble and bronze pedestal.
• Seth Thomas “Regulator #5” weight driven wall clock – A very nice
clock with original, readable dial. Hands are blued spade form;
refinished case has all its drops and finials; correct pendulum.
Previews will be held Friday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. A free, full-color catalog is
available by calling 413-448-8922. Fontaine's Auction Gallery is
always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a
single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them
directly, at 413-448-8922. Or, e-mail them at
in...@fontaineauction.com.
To learn more about Fontaine Auction Gallery and the Nov. 8 Important
Antique Clock Auction, please log on to www.fontainesauction.net.