Rare automaton Dutch Staartklok or tail clock, dating back to the early 1800's.

Rare automaton Dutch Staartklok or tail clock, dating back to the early 1800's. They remained in production until 1875. A narrow cased wall clock with ornamental window to show the pendulum bob. A single weight hangs outside. It has a removable hood like a tall case clock. The painted iron dial incorporates the animated figures, a man fishing at the bottom. He catches a fish when the quarter hours strike, and the windmill blades turn and water runs below the blades. 30 hour movement with 1 weight, runs the time, strike, and animation. There are 2 iron bells, the number of hours strike on the large bell and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters strike on the small bell. All animation is on the quarter hours. 63 inch mahogany case has been lightly cleaned and is in very good condition. There are 4 side panels on the hood and one large one over the dial, light wood with dark inlay. There is a heavy carved crest on the hood top and holes for 3 finials. These clocks originally had 3 ornamental finials, but most of them were lost or broken over the 200 years. Reproduction finials can be purchased for about $60. I have seen 3 original finials for sale on Ebay, for $2000. This is an extremely rare early clock. Similar clocks are pictured and described in all the major clock books. The only other automation I can find is in Roy Ehrhardt's "Foreign Clocks", Book 2, page 148.