39.                   $400

Riley Whiting “Modern Improved Eight Day Clock”, 1828-1835.  Riley started out with Samuel Hoadley making tall case clock movements in Winchester until 1819, when he was on his own.  He set up shop in Winsted, which is just up the road from Winchester, and this label still lists Winchester as the manufacturing location.  Both are northwest of Hartford, and just north of Torrington as well, where Riley was born.  People did not move far afield in those days.  This beautifully refinished mahogany case is 33.5 inches tall with full columns, old glass top and bottom with new putty, and a wonderful eglomise painting of Amelia by Lee Davis.  The wooden dial is clean with good gilding, including a center ornamental wreath, and proper but later hands, including a seconds bit that is not common on wooden movement clocks.  The 8-day, time-and-strike wooden Whiting movement is running and striking on the iron bell, driven by two period 8-day, 10-lb square cast iron weights compounded on wooden pulleys.  There is a modern pendulum bob and a dark but complete label inside, replacement tin dust covers on top. A working latch and key.  Beautiful and impressive. $400–$600.