33. $250
Hatch/Tifft banjo, ca. 1840. The case, glasses,
and pendulum say Horace Tifft, the dial is signed G D Hatch. George is believed to have worked under Horace in his early
years; this may be evidence of that. Clearly the 32-inch mahogany case with wooden finial is in the style of Tifft, with
the curved wooden side arms and the gilded floral pattern on the throat glass and oval opening on the box glass. Both glasses
appear to be period, the finish on the case is old, possibly original. The dial glass is also old but not necessarily original. The
painted and signed dial has old, crackled paint with chipping at the mounts, and is a perfect match to the pins and L-turns that hold
it in place, suggesting that it is original. The hands are typical. The 8-day, weight-driven, time-only movement
will run for a while but I can’t keep it running; there is a cast iron, unmarked weight. The pendulum does not have the
detachable pendulum bob typical of his timepieces. $250–$400.
Antique American Clocks january 2025