Hello Dave,
Thank you for sending in this wall clock to mearto.com for an appraisal. I will try to help you with that tonight.
TITLE:
Retro art deco era, solid oak, replica of a German box wall clock made original during the years of 1920-1940, now created in a limited edition of 100 pieces (no 29), Westminster clock model 86-0040, with west German movement made by Franz Hermle for Westminster Time Company and the case designed by Andy Morrison most likely located in England, circa 1986.
DESCRIPTION:
CASE: 27" tall, 12" wide, 7" deep this appears to be a cherry-stained oak wall clock made in the style of German box wall clocks seen primarily during the years of 1915-1940. The undulating shaped pediment has an applied carved floral ornament on the pediment façade. The pediment and the horizontal cornice below it have rounded corners and just below is the rectilinear glazed dial door also with rounded corners and a frieze of dentil moulding top and bottom. The dial fits partway into a concave moulded wooden door surround and the plain glass then continues down to the base of the door. Below the door is a narrowing rounded pedestal and horizontal bar at the base. Inside the door is a brass plaque with the markings, “This Limited-edition Westminster Clock, model 86- 0040, Solid Ok Handcrafted by Andy Morrison, Number 29 of 100”.
DIAL: A brass bezel encloses the brass alloy round dial plate with raised brass numerals in round circular cartouche form with foliate black markings between the hours serving as half hour markers, closed minute track to the outside, the dial center in fenestrated gilt brass filigree work mostly in a floral pattern with an attached plaque in the upper dial center signed, “Westminster” and steel open Sun and moon hands, an English or north American version of the French Breguet style hands. There are three winding arbors. Despite the fenestrations I cannot see much of the movement behind the dial.
Movement: I am shown a part of the lower back plate of the movement which has a speckled brass back plate, always suggesting the company of Franz Hermle in Germany and originally in West Germany post 1950. They have made their movement calibre 351-050 on special order for the Westminster tome company (WTC), marked unadjusted, zero jewels and made while they worked in west Germany. The model 351-050 Hermle Clock Movement is a Westminster Chime unit with eight chime hammers on the back of the movement. This high-quality German movement comes oiled and includes its leader, suspension spring and hand nut. It is composed of two speckled solid bras plates connected at the corners with tubular pillars screwed into place. Hammer locations are the back 4 on one side and 4 on the other as found in the 351-050 unit. This is a Westminster chime unit. What this means is it will play Westminster progressively as it runs through the quarter hours. On the top of the hour, we get to celebrate with the entire song and then it will strike out whatever hour it is. The numerals refer to the length of the pendulum rod and the size of the movement plates. The movement has an anchor recoil escapement flywheel and rack and snail striking. The springs power it for eight-day duration and cause quarter Westminster chiming with full Strike and chiming of the hours.
Condition: Appears to be in excellent condition, but realize the clock is only about thirty-five years old, too young to be vintage and not yet an antique.
COMMENTARY: The real puzzle was who was Andy Morrison. There currently are tow members of Linked in with the last name Morrison, and both make clocks as part of their work. I suspect one may be the son of the Andy Morrison who made this case. So, I suspect he worked in England. However, at one time he acted as a designer for Howard Miller clocks in the USA. SEE - https://www.perigold.com/decor/pdp/howard-miller-morrison-wall-clock-hw1840.html
This appears to be a modern wall clock and possibly made in association with one of the other Morrisons I referred to. He never became a major designer of clock styles for Howard Miller and seemed to disappear rather quickly. I believe he had a company called the Westminster Clock Company, and for a short while such a company existed in London or other parts of England and may have had an office in Canada. That is about all I can find out about him or his company. Obviously, he did not become a major success in designing such clocks. I can only locate two models made by his company and both are in a retro version of early 20th century styles.
There is no auction history that I can show you by this particular designer and or carver. However, here are some comparables by other designers.
COMPARABLES:
~https://www.perigold.com/decor/pdp/howard-miller-morrison-wall-clock-hw1840.html (Here is a retail price on a Howard Miller Morrison wall clock of $126)
~https://www.etsy.com/listing/826511277/automaton-bite-wall-clock-metal-jacket?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=mechanical+clock&ref=sr_gallery-1-6&frs=1 (retail price on Etsy is $190)
~https://www.etsy.com/listing/1045708921/vintage-wood-key-wound-mechanical?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=mechanical+clock&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&pro=1&frs=1 (Korean made mantel clock from the 1980s sells on Etsy for $135.
~https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/43088303_mark-brazier-jones-world-clock-england-c-1980 (WORLD CLOCK MADE IN ENGLAND CIRCA 1980 SOLD AT AUCTION FOR $4251, BUT IT IS TRULY A MODERN DESIGNER MODEL BY A KNOWN ARTIST.)
~https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/65563674_designer-der-2-halfte-des-20-jh-standuhr (Swinging grandfather clock made circa 1980 sold for $649)
PRICING:
Considering we do not have a well know artistic designer in Adam Morrison, and his product is poorly known on the market, what we do have is a well made circa 1980 box wall clock done in a manner that mixes what the German and the English clockmakers of the art deco era made for sale and they were quite popular at that time. Today those models sell in the $125-$150 range (from the 1930s era). I believe your clock, if sold at auction in today market would have a fair market value of $200-$250 with a retail price about twice that high.
I wish I could have been more informative about the creator, but you and I both searched online and he was almost nowhere to be seen. Rather than being a designer he really was more of a carver and mechanic who recreated old styles from a century ago, and was not a creative designer for new clock designs.
Thank you for choosing merto.com for this appraisal.
My best,
David