John Bailey II of Hanover, Massachusetts. A maple case tall clock. 210067.
This long case example exhibits excellent proportions for Southeastern Massachusetts. The case wood is maple and features an older, mellow honey colored finish. It is quite pleasing. The secondary wood is New England white pine. It is interesting to note that this example bears the inscription for the original owner, who appears to have been a Lieutenant. Unfortunately, the name is not legible.
This case stands on applied bracket feet. The center of this molding features a simple drop pendant. The waist door is a rectangular shape and trimmed with a molded edge around its perimeter. Through this door, one can access the two weights and brass-faced pendulum bob. The bonnet door is arched and fitted with glass. It is flanked by fully turned and fluted bonnet columns. These are mounted in brass capitals. The bonnet features a traditional New England-style lacy fretwork pattern that is supported by three fluted chimney plinths. Each of these fluted plinths is surmounted with a brass ball and spiked finial.
The simply engraved brass dial has been silvered. The time ring, featuring large Roman numeral hour markers, smaller Arabic five-minute markers, subsidiary seconds dial, and an engraved name boss, is filled with wax. The wax is black and contrasts nicely with the silver dial finish. The Maker’s signature and working location are engraved on the dial's arch. It reads, “John Bailey / Hanover” in a script format. It is interesting to note that the spandrel areas are not decorated with engravings.
The movement is brass and designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is powered by two weights that descend inside the case behind the waist door. This movement is also designed to strike each hour via a count-wheel striking system. It will strike a bell every hour. The bell is mounted above the movement inside the case. The plates have been skeletonized. The winding drums are made of wood. This movement is of good quality.
This clock was made circa 1795. This wonderful, simple case stands approximately 7 feet 11 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number 221033.
John Bailey II was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, the son of Colonel John (A shipbuilder) and Ruth Randall Bailey on May 6, 1751. He died there 72 years later, on January 23, 1823. It is thought that he learned clockmaking at a very young age and may have been self-taught. John is responsible for training numerous apprentices, including his younger brothers Calvin and Lebbeus, his son John III, Joseph Gooding, Ezra Kelley, and Hingham's Joshua Wilder. Many of these trained apprentices moved to other towns in southeastern Massachusetts and became well known in their local communities. John was the most prolific maker of the six Baileys in the clock business. In addition, he was a Quaker preacher, an ingenious mechanic, and an instrument maker. Other examples of his work include a surveyor's compass in the Hanover Historical Society's collection. He was also an inventor and received a patent for a steam-operated roasting jack. This device was designed to turn the meat over a fire to cook it more evenly.
John's clocks are roughly divided into two categories. The first is a home-developed style. These examples often have sheet brass dials engraved and silver-washed. Several examples of movements constructed in wood are known to us. Others are built in brass, and the plates are fully skeletonized. Some of these later clocks incorporate wooden winding drums. It is interesting to note that he made both types of strike trains. We have seen examples he signed that feature a count wheel setup and the more popular rack-and-snail setup. Very few clockmakers used both setups. The cases are typically constructed from indigenous woods, including maple and cherry. These examples have pleasing country proportions and lack the sophistication of the Roxbury school. The 'Roxbury/Boston influence' refers to the design and craftsmanship styles that were popular in these areas at the time. Sometime around 1790, this influence must have played a significant role in John's production. The movements in these examples are more apt to incorporate fully plated movements. In addition, the cases resemble those being turned out by the Willard School to the North. These feature mahogany cases, often decorated with inlays. This second generation of output is much more formal in appearance.
Our collection over the years has included a diverse range of clocks crafted by John Bailey II. From tall case clocks to dwarf clocks, banjo or wall timepieces, and the unique Massachusetts shelf clock form, his versatility as a clockmaker is truly intriguing.
