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Welch, Spring & Co. “Gerster”, 1879-1884. Named after Etelka Gerster (1855-1920), a most famous opera singer prima donna and a rival of Adelina Patti, who eventually refused to sing with Etelka and claimed that her harsh voice caused the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 (E. N. Welch – Tribute to the Opera by Robert Briggs). The 18.5-inch case is rosewood with a beautiful polished finish and three original glasses, with the gilding on the front glass. The dial was repainted by The Dial House, the Patti hands are proper. The 8-day, time-and-strike Patti movement is running and striking on the nickel bell, regulated by a Welch sandwich glass pendulum. There is black flocking on the inside backwall and a faded label on the back of the case. I can find no issues with this clock. AAC sold a similar example last summer for $630. $500–$750.