James Mangan, Cork, Ireland. A mahogany case tall clock with maintaining power and a deadbeat escapement. 223321.

This diminutive case has very good proportions for being such a small size. Because it lacks decoration on top of the hood, by design, it measures 6 feet 10 inches tall. The mahogany selected for the case construction exhibits excellent grain patterns and a wide variety of warm brown tones. Crotch pattern veneers are used in the inset base panel and waist door. The case is elevated on four feet. The front two are decoratively turned and shaped. The five-sided section has canted corners, features, and an inset base panel. This design element is repeated on the long dome-shaped waist door. This door provides access to the two drive weights and the pendulum. The front corners of the waist section are also canted. This canted detail visually narrows the proportions of the case by enabling your eye to roll off the edge. An applied rounded molding is positioned below the upper waist molding. The bonnet is constructed with a very simple molded arch. The bonnet door is arched and fitted with a circular piece of clear glass framed with a rounded molding. Through this, one can view the dial.

The white-painted iron dial features a segmented minute ring, Roman-style hour numerals, and subsidiary seconds dial and is signed, "JAS. MANGAN / CORK." Nicely formed steel hands to show the time.

The brass eight-day, weight-driven, two-train movement is of excellent quality. It has two premier features commonly found in regulator-grade clock construction. It has a deadbeat escapement and retaining or maintaining power. Maintaining power is a mechanical device that provides power to the time train while the clock is being wound. As a result, no time will be lost during that process. Four-turned pillars or posts secure the two large brass rectangular-shaped solid plates. They support the hardened steel shafts, the polished steel pinions, the brass gearing, and the grooved winding drums designed to accept the weight cord in an orderly fashion. This clock will strike each hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement. Interestingly, these works are die-stamped on both the front and back plates by the Clockmaker, "JAS. MANGAN / CORK."

This clock stands 6 feet 8.5 inches tall, 18.5 inches wide, and 9.5 inches deep. 

This clock was made circa 1840.

James Mangon is listed as working in Cork, Ireland, in Brian Loomes' Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in the 18th century. From the format of the dial and the styling of this case, he must have worked in the 1850s. The city of Cork is located in the south of Ireland.

Inventory number 223321.