Expert: William J Perkins - 1/6/2008

Question
I have a very unusual, if not unique, lantern clock. It has a musical movement, 8 bells, 10 hammers plus the usual hour bell on top. Two hands. Side doors with glass panels. The very unusual features are a calendar aperture above VI and a moon phase dial in the arch.

I believe the clock to be a marriage of styles, English movement, Dutch dial dated c1720. It is signed v Brussel Alkmaar. The question is whether it is made up from two clocks or it started life this way.

I have asked three experts and had three different answers. One Dutch expert says it is a made up clock, another Dutch expert is unsure and a Yorkshire expert thinks it is genuine, but with some unanswered questions.

My question is: Can you tell me of a person or maybe a museum who could give me more information? Maybe a Dutch museum which specialises in Anglo Dutch clocks?

Answer
Wow!!  Would I like to see this guy.  I will contact the museums I have done past work for to see if some light might be shed.
In the meantime I suggest you contact the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors about this rare bird <www.nawcc.org>  Whether they would extend research facilities to a non-member, I don't know, but it is surely worth a shot.
Perchance do you have digital pictures you could share?  If so pease send to my e-mail address <flashpowder@hotmail.com>
Before I close I can't resist a comment, Any expert I know would recognize immediately whether or not he had a production or a made-up clock in hand.
Regards WJP