An elegant, quality early Victorian single fusee skeleton clock signed Broderick, Preston c1850. Delicately cast and finished brass scroll plates with finely crossed five-spoke wheels. Silvered chapter ring with engraved Roman numerals and blued steel hands. Recoil anchor escapement with friction collet crutch adjustment and brass bob pendulum. Original chain drive to the 8-day six pillar movement. Overwind stop. Standing on an ebonised oval base on three brass bun feet under a period glass dome. Supplied with key. The clock measures 29 cm to the top of its dome. Base dimensions are 26.5 cm x 18.5 cm. Excellent timekeeper. Fully cleaned and serviced. The clock's movement is covered by our 12 month warranty in the UK.
 
Thomas Broderick b. c1810 (watch and clockmaker) was registered as present at the marriage of his daughter Mary Elizabeth Broderick in St John, Preston in 1855. It is probable that he was related to the extensive Broderick family of clockmakers initially based around Boston, Lincolnshire in the 18th century. The first Thomas Broderick of Spalding was a maker of clocks – with known signed examples dating from the 1750s to the 1770s. Prolific generations of sons and grandsons followed him into the trade and the family extended their influence primarily into Northamptonshire and then London. However family disagreements around the late 18th century and continued hostility into the early 19th century resulted in some branches of the family dispersing to various parts – including emigration to New Zealand, Canada and California!  Sadly, Mary Elizabeth died in 1861 (just six years after her marriage) and no further records of Broderick clockmaking in Preston found.