James Mc Cabe

James Mc Cabe, Royal Exchange, London, No. 2918, circa 1850. Very fine and rare "giant" gilt brass 8 day-going double-train carriage clock striking and repeating the hours. Glazed on three sides and on top, molded on top and bottom, massive fluted handle, the gilt brass back with shuttered holes for winding and hand setting, levers for strike/silent and regulation. Rectangular brass, both trains with fusees and chains, maintaining power on the going side, platform with underslung lateral lever escapement, frosted gilt three-arm monometallic balance, blued steel flat balance spring, escape wheels and balance pivots jewelled, index regulator, strike/silent lever on the back plate, striking the hours on a coiled gong and repeating activated by depressing a button in the top. Dial and movement signed and numbered. Dim. Height 24.7 cm, width 13.6 cm, depth 10.6 Notes Mc Cabe This firm had a very high reputation for watches and clocks, concentrating particularly on the Indian market, where an agency was maintained. Its founder was James Mc Cabe, one of three horologist sons of Irish watch and clockmaker William Mc Cabe, who moved to London in the third quarter of the 18th century. In April 1781 he was made honorary freeman of the Clockmaker's Company, and took up the livery in 1787. Although Mc Cabe used a wide variety of escapements, he is particularly associated with the improvement of the duplex escapement. On his death in 1811 he was Senior Warden of the Company. He wa Read more…