Musical Tall Case Clock, c.1810
Martin Shreiner
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Martin Shreiner (1769-1866) ran his clock business in Lancaster until 1830 when he turned it over to his sons, Martin, Jr. and Philip. His clocks were characterized by removal of a trapezoidal piece at the bottom edge of the movement plates, gathering pallet locking, and the occasional use of sweep calendar and seconds hands.
This scroll pediment case is an excellent example of Lancaster's Federal style. It houses an eight day musical movement which plays seven tunes on bells, one of five such movements known to have been made by Shreiner. The mahogany case has the unusual detail of Gothic side windows on the hood.
Donated by John R. Schmitt and Lillian M. Haase and their families in memory of Alfonso and Elizabeth Schmitt.
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Copyright Notice
CASE
- Mahogany cased eight day timepiece with acorn finial.
- Laminated wood bezel with original convex glass.
- The lower box is dovetailed at the top and bottom corners.
- The wood frames are cross banded mahogany with blind mortise and tenon construction.
- The decorative wood panels are bowed crotch mahogany.
MOVEMENT
- Eight day movement with brass wheels and plates, cut steel pinions with a recoil escapement.
- Step train wheel layout, steel pendulum crutch. Lead weight with a large duck-bill hook.
- Brass pulley.
- Steel pierced loop hands - Curtis style, four loops on the hour hand and five on the minute hand.