Posted 12 years ago
Teresea
(1 item)
A friend has had the good fortune to have this passed down thru his family. I'm trying to identify it. I know there was more than one Willard brother. One signed A. Willard, one Aaron Willard and another Aaron Willard, Jr. The signature on mine looks a little different from others and too new. Go figure. I like it either way.
TJ
I have only the smaller weight in it. The signature still looks to be newer than 207 years old. I guess if I was that age I'd need a few repairs! It looks like I'll have to find the Foley book for more research. In the middle of the face the hands are held on by a pin which I'm afraid to mess with. And the inside of the bottom box looks like the paint has been touched up. Some of the small brackets holding the face's secure look to be misaligned. Some of the most recent repairs are to he brass, using small nails. How they got them in there I'll never know. I think it's Federal but has no Patent on the front. I just love it but still want to make sure I don't have a Howard timepiece / clock. Thank you for the comment about my old Boston treasure, TJ
There was Arron Willard and Simon Willard, both respected clockmakers. If it is in fact an Arron Willard, you have a great clock.
Still trying to determine if it's a Jr. or A. Willard. I'll get the Foley book. I want to remove the face but it has a pin in the center where the minute hands are and I don't want to mess it up. To learn things I do it the hard way. I can't even figure out how to get to the back. This is the coolest clock but I do not want to ruin it in the process of identifying it. The wood is beautiful and obviously authentic, especially on the back and sides. The brass scrolling has been repaired and the wood gilt looks to have been redone. I'm just going to let it hang on the wall until I learn more. I'm a novice right now. TJ
I've put the Willard Clock aside until now. The gentleman in whose family this has been is represented by an attorney, my friend. The owner just wants to sell it. He only wants $600. Go figure. I have ample photos and spent weeks researching the tiniest detail. I've taken it to a man here in San Antonio who doesn't want the liability of removing the face. I need to see the whats behind the face. If you have an interest in a VERY old Aaron Willard Banjo clock please let me know. I've seen them online for thousands. The gentleman who owns it is elderly and asked his attorney to call me for research.