Mahogany Longcase Clock

Mahogany veneer on softwood, arched dial. Hood: Freestanding brass mounted columns either side of door. Arched top with three wood finials and simple shaped cresting. Size: 89 inches high

English two train weight driven. Brass cased weights. brass faced pendulum.. Rack strike, striking on bell set above movement. Substantial brass plates with shaped pillars. Anchor escapement.
Dial: Brass with applied brass finials, silvered chapter ring, silvered seconds dial and name plaque. Aperture for day of month (on silvered ring). Pierced blued steel hands.

Dial plaque carries the name "Jn Moore, Maidstone". Seconds dial and one barrel have engraved "M" so I assume Moore was the maker.. Back of dialplate engraved "Trauton" (some letters a bit unclear) and a number (or date?) 1772. back of calender ring engraved "Trawton" (quite clear).Back of seconds dial engraved in small, indistinct letters "Troughton". My guess would be that "Trawton" made the dial. All a bit mysterious but perhaps spelling was not so consistent then. Marked in pencil "Cleaned Mar 26 1892 4/6"

Door to trunk slightly warped and veneer to panelling on base shows shrinkage of underlying timber. Slight damage to cresting.

Date pointers: Shape of pillars suggests 1780 or later. Mahogany veneer used from 1740, calender aperture suggests pre 1790 when calender dial came in. Brass dial with applied chapter ring suggests well before end of C18 when painted dials became more common. Five minute numbered ring is present and this disappeared by end C18. Taking these various indications I am inclined to think that the figures on the dialplate do indicate the date the clock was made ie 1772.
I intend to keep this clock as it has become part of the household. B records several makers by the name of Troughton, for example John Troughton of 10 Red Lion St Clerkenwell 1765-94