Lantern clock made about 1690 with original anchor escapement by Joseph Littlemore of Frodsham, Cheshire, the only clock known by this maker, pictured before restoration. See article.
Extract from my forthcoming book 'Lantern Clocks and their Makers', in which this clock is illustrated
Littlemore, Joseph. Frodsham (Cheshire). He was born at Frodsham about 1650, orphaned at the age of twelve and brought up by his elder brother. It is believed he was apprenticed to a local whitesmith. He lived at several locations virtually all within Frodsham parish. By 1681 he had become a Quaker living at nearby Kingsley. He married in 1687 at Newton Quaker Meeting House to Hannah Williamson and they had numerous children including Jacob, the only one who followed his father's trade (and ultimately moved to Wrexham). Joseph moved to Frodsham between 1690 and 1694, where he worked on the church clock in 1707, then moved to nearby Preston on the Hill after 1712. He died 23rd April 1721, buried at Newton Quaker burial ground. His widow moved back to Frodsham, where she died 19th January 1724, also buried at Newton. He was variously described as a smith, gunsmith and whitesmith. Two longcase clocks signed 'Littlemore Frodsham' could be jointly by father and son. A single lantern clock is known by him with original anchor escapement, signed 'Jos. Littlemore Fecit'. See my article in Clocks Magazine May 2007.
Joseph Littlemore, a Quaker whitesmith and gunsmith, was unrecorded as a clockmaker till this single lantern clock was discovered, pictured here. Joseph lived at several different locations, virtually all within the parish of Frodsham. It has stylistic affinities with Lancashire in its integral pillars, though the feet and finials follow the style of post-restoration London. The engraving style is unlike any other. The dolphin frets are decorated with unusual engraving, and the well-known theme of tulips-from-a vase in the dial centre is also carried out in an unusual engraving style, as are the unusual spiky-leaved corners. All these are the work of an engraver who is copying no-one. Mechanically the clock is more conventional, with original anchor escapement and parallel arbors. The clock probably dates from the 1690s.