Antique Nicholas Blaisdell Clock

Price Type: auction
Sold Date: 1/1/2003
Pre-Sale Estimate: (subscribers only)
Sold For: (subscribers only)

Catalog Description:

Early American Tall Clock, by Nicholas Blaisdell, 1743-1800. A son of the famous clockmaker, David Blaisdell, who is thought to have made as many as 50 tall clocks. The Blaisdells cover several generations, with known work from 1735 to 1817, with clocks made in Mass., Maine, and finally in New Hampshire. The Blaisdells were the earliest blacksmiths, silversmiths, woodworkers & clockmakers north of Boston. Nicholas was the youngest of 5 brothers, all of whom became clockmakers. He settled in Portland, Maine in 1770. His clocks, like those of his father and brothers, were tall clocks with a one day brass movement using a single weight and endless rope drive. A Blaisdell movement is further characterized by having no second hand but often a date window. The movement was made without conventional solid plates but, instead, the gears were supported on a modified brass strap cross structure. This structure was supported in a cage consisting of iron top and bottom plates separated by corner pillars of rectangular cross section. In addition the trains are positioned in tandem, ie the strike train is located behind the run train which made it possible to use the endless rope arrangement. The large 3 1/2 inch diameter count wheel is located on the outside of the rear plate. The movement has most of the original calendar drive mechanism. The 9 inch silvered dial is engraved for the numerals. Opinions differ as to the originality of the cast spandrels and ornamentation on the brass dial plate. A Blaisdell clock is easily identified because of its unusual features.All Blaisdell movements that are known, have the arched dial thus requiring a similar door on the bonnet top, with the majority of those hoods having a flat top. The Queen Anne dome on this clock may be an old addition to dress up the flat top, but it has been on there a long time. The mahogany stained, pine case, is 7 feet, 2 inches tall, 19 inches wide. The case is in a well preserved state, with few changes since it was made. The 30 hour movement is running as designed.Nicholas' ancestor, Ralph Blaisdell, landed in Maine on 8-15-1635, and was one of the first settlers of Salisbury, Mass. One of Ralph's 2 sons was Henry Blaisdell, 1632-1707. Henry's son was Jonathan Blaisdell, 1676-1748. Jonathan was Nicholas' grandfather, who may have made 2 clocks. Jonathan married the grand-daughter of Susanna Martin, who was executed as a witch! Jonathan's 3 sons all became clockmakers, the youngest of whom was David Blaisdell 1711-1756. David died (in 1756) at Fort William Henry on lake George, New York, during the French & Indian War, leaving 5 sons who became clockmakers, blacksmiths, silversmiths and woodworkers. "Nicholas was one of David's sons, and the maker of this clock, and was a Captain in the Revolutionary War with the First Co. out of Maine. Thus Nicholas was born in 1743 as a 5th generation American and a 3rd generation clockmaker.There are many references you should read.Charles Parsons, "New Hampshire Clocks & Clockmakers", on pages 66-67 there are 4 excellent illustrations of a Blaisdell movement."A History of Clockmaking in Maine", by Charles W. Smith, Jr. April 1973 Bulletin of the NAWCC, Volume XV, No.9, Whole Number 163, page 1075.

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