Elleby & Son Ashbourn(e), England. Tall Case Clock.

This attractive long case clock features a painted dial that is signed by the Makers , John "Elleby & Son \/ Ashbourn(e)." John Elleby (I) and his son John (II) are listed in Brain Loomes reference book, \Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World.\" Loomes lists this family firm at work in 1849. Ashbourne is in Derbyshire and is located to the North of the city of Birmingham.

This is an attractive tall case clock that exhibits solid proportions. The case is primarily constructed in oak and is highlighted with mahogany accents and decorative lightwood line inlays.. The current finish has a honey brown coloring that is rich and warm and compliments the clock.

This case stands on an applied bracket base. The base panel and the applied decorative are both framed with mahogany cross banding. The waist section features corners that are fitted with reeded quarter columns. These terminate in turned wooden capitals. The waist door is shaped at the top and is also cross banded in mahogany. The door is trimmed with a simple molded edge. Four mahogany panels are located in the waist section. Each in line inlaid. One is positioned below the door. Two are located under the quarter columns. The last one can be found in the upper portion of the waist. The bonnet features a swan's neck pediment which is nicely formed and terminates in lovely brass rosettes. Fully turned and fancifully shaped bonnet columns flank the sides of the arched door. The bonnet door is veneered in mahogany and fitted with glass. This opens to allow one access to the painted dial.

The iron dial is colorfully painted. The four spandrel areas are nicely decorated with florals and stylized designs. In the arch is a lovely pastoral view of a windmill aside a river. The Clockmaker's signature and working location are clearly signed below the center arbor. The time ring is executed in Roman style numerals. The hour and minutes are indicated by the two wonderfully detailed brass hands. A subsidiary seconds dial can be found below the Arabic hour numeral twelve. This clock also has a calendar.

This fine movement is constructed in brass and is good quality. Four turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight driven and designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is a two train or a time and strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement.

This clock was made circa 1850.