A fine quality mahogany eight day
longcase clock by Thomas Reid of Edinburgh c.1790
Maker: Thomas Reid (1746- 1831) was one of the most
innovative and widely read horologists of the late 18th
century. He is best known today for the excellent
craftsmanship of his surviving clocks and the
thoroughness of his 1825 "Treatise on Clock and Watch
Making, Theoretical and Practical", which ran to six
editions.
Date: 1790
Height: 223cm
Width: 45cm
Depth: 20cm
Price: Sold
Case
The mahogany case of typical
Edinburgh design, with finely figured veneers to the
shaped top trunk door. The base with a moulded panel
effect and shaped bracket feet. The hood with locking
glazed cast brass bezel, with shaped pediment, cast brass
finial and cast brass silk lined sound frets to the
sides. The original lock and brass hinges to the
trunk door and hood bezel.
Dial
The circular painted white dial
finely with bold Roman numerals and an outer minute
circle. Subsidiary date and seconds zone to the dial
centre, signed to the centre Thos Reid, Edinburgh.
Movement
The finely made movement by this eminent maker with
Harrisons maintaining power is of eight day duration, the
plates united by four knopped pillars, anchor escapement
and striking the hours on a single bell.
The movement is fully restored by our horologist who
works exclusively for us.
Our horologist is a Fellow of the British Horological
Institute (FBHI), having 35 years of full time
professional engagement in the repair & restoration of
clocks, watches, music boxes & barometers. He was the
recipient of the 1977 Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
Bronze Medal.
Weights and pendulum
The original oval shaped cast weights and heavy original
brass faced pendulum, with steel strap.
Hands
Fine quality original blued steel hands of elegant design.
Thomas Reid (1746- 1831) was one of the most
innovative and widely read horologists of the late 18th
century. He is best known today for the excellent
craftsmanship of his surviving clocks and the thoroughness
of his 1825 "Treatise on Clock and Watch Making, Theoretical
and Practical", which ran to six editions.
He was apprenticed to his cousin, another great horologist,
James Cowan in 1762 and when Cowan died in 1781, Reid
returned from London to take over a thriving business. The
Edinburgh Evening Courant of 28th November 1781 carries an
advertisement for the confident 35 year old in which he
states that he "...has for eleven years resided in London,
where, after having received the instructions of the first
masters of that profession, did carry on business and was
employed in the execution of the first rate work there, he
makes no doubt of giving entire satisfaction to his
employers."
He was made an Honorary Freeman of the Clockmakers Company.
Reid undertook various public commissions including the new
clocks at St. Andrews Parish Church, Edinburgh, and at St
Giles Kirk. Precision timekeeping was a particular love for
him and fine astronomical regulators by him are known at the
Royal Observatory , Calton Hill, Edinburgh and at Kinfauns
Castle (for the Right Honourable Lord Gray)
In 1806 he took his stepson, William Auld into partnership
and on their retirement in 1823 they issued another
advertisement in the Evening Courant: " Reid &
Auld...particularly recommend their stock consisting
of...some most excellent ..Spring Clocks (some of which are
fitted up in a superior manner)...indeed the whole are such
that, in all probablility, their like will not be met with
soon again."