To return to view all Clocks click HERE

Clockmaker/By : Ralph Banks of Plymouth Dock - (now Devonport).

Duration: 8 day

Circa : Circa: 1780

Height : 80.5 inches excluding finials..

Case:
Arched hood and mahogany case.
Long trunk door with semi circular top and canted pillars to side of trunk.
Width at widest point 19.5" (Hood).
Inlay to base with bracket feet.

Dial:
Tidal brass dial rolling moon (brown eyes) showing High Water at Plymouth Dock.
with painted star night sky and engraved moon hemispheres.
Arch dial 16.75" x 12" with engraved sailing ships at 4 and 8 o'clock.
Semi circular date dial and seconds dial.
Centre sweep brass calendar hand.
Silvered chapter ring, steel hands and pointed second hand.
High quality spandrels of non standard design.
Roman numerals.

Maker:
On 1 January 1824 the name of Plymouth Dock was changed to Devonport

Ralph Banks was known to have been working 1782 - 1810. He married Rebecca Palmer Collings at Stoke Damerel parish church on 10 Dec 1782. He worked as a watchmaker and silversmith in Catherine Street and his clocks and watches were of good quality, some bought ready - made from London makers. This was
especially true of bracket clocks for which not many were ordered outside of the London market so clockmakers tended to buy them in from London.

John Thwaites the famous Clarkenwell maker supplied Ralph Banks from 1796-99. In a picture ' Picture of Plymouth' 1812 there was shown a business listed under Rebecca Banks, silversmith, Fore Street, Plymouth Dock

Other makers who made clocks showing 'High Water at Plymouth Dock' were:
     Richard Lear of Plymouth c1770
     Joseph Towan of Plymouth Dock c1780

Price : £ 5,950

Guarantee : 12 months