Clock · Floorstanding regulator

Mahogany Floorstanding Regulator Clock, G.Fk. Schearer / T. Martin & Co

Partially verified

This mid-19th-century English floorstanding regulator clock is housed in a mahogany case featuring a square-topped hood, a glazed trunk door, and a plinth base. Measuring 1.88 meters high, the case encloses a 12-inch circular silvered regulator dial with outer concentric minutes and separate subsidiaries for Arabic seconds and Roman hours. According to the source, the movement features 1/4-inch-thick plates joined by six turned pillars, six-crossing wheelwork, maintaining power, and a deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets. It operates with a wooden rod pendulum with bar suspension and a brass bob with a silvered rating nut.

Full-length view of the mahogany floorstanding regulator clock — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: www.bonhams.com
Category: Clock · Floorstanding regulator
Maker / attribution: G.Fk. Schearer, London / T.Martin & Co Successors
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 109
Source-reported date: mid 19th century
Country: United Kingdom

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Architecture and Visible Presentation

The clock is housed in an upright mahogany standing case standing 1.88 meters high according to the lot description. Its upper section consists of a square-topped hood with stepped moulding positioned over the case body. Below the hood, a long glazed trunk door reveals the interior pendulum rod and circular brass pendulum bob, terminating above a plain base panel with a plinth.

According to the auction catalogue, the long glazed door is fitted with internal dust-proof moulding. While the overall standing form and door framing are visible in the catalogue photograph, specific interior moulding profiles cannot be verified from the image alone.

Evidence for this section

“Standing mahogany case with a square-topped hood and stepped moulding.”
“Glazed trunk door showing the suspended pendulum rod and circular brass pendulum bob.”
“Plain lower trunk panel terminating in a moulded plinth base.”
“square topped hood over a long glazed door with interal dust proof moulding, on a plain base panel with plinth”
“1.88m. high”

Dial Configuration and Indications

The dial is a 12-inch circular silvered regulator dial displaying astronomical-style timekeeping registers. An outer concentric chapter ring tracks the minutes, while inner subsidiary dials separately indicate hours and seconds. Visually, an upper subsidiary register and a lower subsidiary register are visible within the main dial.

The auction description records that the dial is signed, identifying G.Fk. Schearer of London alongside successors T. Martin & Co of 151 Regent St. The description further notes that the concentric minutes enclose subsidiaries for Arabic seconds with Observatory marks and Roman hours, though these specific engravings cannot be fully deciphered at the current photograph resolution.

Evidence for this section

“Circular silvered regulator dial with outer minute track and separate upper and lower subsidiary registers.”
“the 12 inch signed circular silvered dial with concentric minutes enclosing subsidiaries for arabic seconds with Observatory marks and Roman hours”
“G.Fk. Schearer, London/ T.Martin & Co Successors 151 Regent St.”

Source-Reported Movement and Regulating Components

The internal mechanism is housed within the case and not visible in the catalogue photograph, but the auction description details a regulator movement with 1/4-inch-thick plates united by six substantial turned pillars. The wheel train is reported to feature wheels of six crossings with high-count pinions, accompanied by maintaining power.

The escapement is catalogued as a deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets, an 8.5-inch-long steel crutch with a tall flat impulse pin, and endstops for both the pallet arbor and escape wheel. Timekeeping is reported to operate via a wooden rod pendulum with bar suspension, micrometer adjustment, and a heavy brass bob with a silvered rating nut.

Evidence for this section

“the 1/4 inch thick plates united by six substantial turned pillars”
“all wheels of six crossings with high count pinions, maintaining power to deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets and 8.5 inch long steel crutch with tall flat impulse pin”
“wooden rod pendulum with bar suspension, micrometer adjustment and heavy brass bob with silvered rating nut, the 'scape wheel and pallet arbour both in endstops”

Open research questions

What exact wording and layout appear in the dial signature engraving referencing G.Fk. Schearer and T. Martin & Co?
Does internal inspection confirm the reported presence of jewelled pallets and endstops on the escape wheel and pallet arbor?
What species of wood was used for the pendulum rod, and are any maker or serial markings stamped on the movement plates?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Mahogany Floorstanding Regulator Clock, G.Fk. Schearer / T. Martin & Co
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Case Construction	Square-topped hood over a long glazed door with internal dust-proof moulding on a plain base plinth	“square topped hood over a long glazed door with interal dust proof moulding, on a plain base panel with plinth”
Dial Diameter and Layout	12-inch circular silvered dial with concentric minutes and subsidiaries for Arabic seconds and Roman hours	“the 12 inch signed circular silvered dial with concentric minutes enclosing subsidiaries for arabic seconds with Observatory marks and Roman hours”
Movement Plates and Pillars	1/4-inch-thick plates united by six substantial turned pillars	“the 1/4 inch thick plates united by six substantial turned pillars”
Escapement	Deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets and maintaining power	“maintaining power to deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets”
Pendulum	Wooden rod pendulum with bar suspension, micrometer adjustment, and heavy brass bob	“wooden rod pendulum with bar suspension, micrometer adjustment and heavy brass bob with silvered rating nut”
Height	1.88 meters high	“1.88m. high”
Crutch Dimensions	8.5-inch long steel crutch with tall flat impulse pin	“8.5 inch long steel crutch with tall flat impulse pin”
Endstop Provision	Escape wheel and pallet arbor both in endstops	“the 'scape wheel and pallet arbour both in endstops”
Wheelwork Configuration	All wheels of six crossings with high count pinions	“all wheels of six crossings with high count pinions”

Visible details

Standing mahogany case with a square-topped hood and stepped moulding.
Glazed trunk door showing the suspended pendulum rod and circular brass pendulum bob.
Circular silvered regulator dial with outer minute track and separate upper and lower subsidiary registers.
Plain lower trunk panel terminating in a moulded plinth base.

Research qualifications

Movement plates, jewelled pallets, maintaining power, and gear crossings are enclosed within the case and not visible in the photograph.
Dial inscriptions and signatures cannot be fully deciphered at current image resolution.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Bonhams : A fine mid 19th century mahogany floorstanding regulator G.Fk. Schearer, London/ T.Martin & Co Successors 151 Regent St.

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 1962c08dbb

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.