David Blasdel (sic) in Almsbury (sic-Amesbury) , Mass., American tall clock movement (only) , 30 hour, time, strike and date calendar, weight driven movement with cast iron frame on spiked feet and brass gears with brass dial, pewter chapter ring and name

David Blasdel (sic) in Almsbury (sic-Amesbury) , Mass., American tall clock movement (only) , 30 hour, time, strike and date calendar, weight driven movement with cast iron frame on spiked feet and brass gears with brass dial, pewter chapter ring and name boss, dated MDCCLI (1751) the pendulum, weight and bell are absent. There are old repairs to the rear of the dial plate; hour hand original, minute hand replaced. You will find a cousin to this movement showing as illustration # 27 in THE BOOK OF AMERICAN CLOCKS, by Brooks Palmer. Brooks surely knew he was showing a tall clock movement, but his secretary probably typed in "hang-up clock" while Brooks was sleeping on his office couch. All of these Blasdel movements are similar to French lantern clocks. David either had one as an example or had apprenticed with a French-Canadian clockmaker. Dials are always very crude, the name boss, typical of his clocks, appearing to have been engraved (using the term loosely) with a nail or dull chisel. Original spandrels missing, these are make shift. Hour hand is original, minute hand a poor replacement. This example of Blaisdel's work is about as good as we have ever seen; his were all crude (his sons got better): Most appear today as loose movements and although one could make a seat board and mount on a bracket as a wag, they were originally cased.