CLOCK

This record refers to the clock parts recovered as part of a group of finds. The finder described the items as 6 clock parts, the square glass from the clock face and the copper clock face from a grandfather clock, which suggests these finds represent parts of two separate clocks.

Three of the clock parts, manufactured in a copper alloy, are circular and bear teeth around their circumference indicating they are part of the clockwork mechanism. Two other parts, also in copper alloy, are circular but without evidence of teeth. One has three screw holes arranged around a central circular aperture and a ridge running around its circumference. The verdigris corrosion on this item only affects one half of the object, suggesting that it has been partially protected whilst on the seabed. The remaining item is considerably more corroded, though it still appears to be made from a copper alloy. It comprises a hollow circle with a band dividing the central aperture in equal halves, opposite the end of this band are two circular fixing points with screw holes attached to the outside central circular element. The central band has a square hole in its centre, which is unlikely to be much more than 5 mm across. There is an additional element that obscures the upper half of the central circular element which cannot be accurately described from the object.

The sixth clock part described by the finder is a flat copper alloy plate with a minimum of 18 holes drilled into it in addition to two square, one rectangular and one open rectangular aperture/s. At the top of the item is what appears to be a latch or clip. This object appears to be part of the mounting for the mechanism, and several of the drilled holes bear the shadows of where bolts and screws would have been attached. Most notably though is the inscription S Thomas, Thomaston C, US which can be observed. This refers to the manufacturer of the time piece, the Seth Thomas Clock Company, details of which are described in the next section.

A square piece of glass is described by the finder as being the clock face associated with the clock parts described above. Consultation online with examples of clocks manufactured by S Thomas support this use for the glass, as some of their models do have square faces.

The final object relating to clocks is a large oval ring of copper alloy which is described by the finder as the clock face from a grandfather clock. Its size, in comparison to the glass face, would certainly suggest it is from a different larger time piece. To the bottom right of the photograph it is possible to observe a hinge on the outside of the ring, whilst diametrically opposite a possible catch can be seen. These features suggest an opening element, presumably holding an oval glass clock face, may have attached to the recovered item. No other diagnostic features are immediately apparent from the photo provided.