Walter Archer Hook-and-Spike

Hook-and-Spike

by

Walter Archer

of Stow

Shown here is an interesting, unrestored early single-handed hook-and-spike by Walter Archer of Stow, c1700. The clock is housed in a painted pine longcase and hangs from the backboard of its case via an iron hook.

Above. Showing the Walter Archer dial with his typical style of ring-and-dot half-hour markers, engraved dial centre with interesting foliate design and single iron hand. The chapter ring is signed Archer, Stow. Photographed by Lee Borrett

Below. Showing the Archer birdcage movement with hoop and spurs hanging from the backboard of its case via an iron hook. Photographed by Lee Borrett

Walter Archer was born in 1674 at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, the son of a blacksmith. By about 1695 he had moved to Stow-on-the -Wold, being first documented there in a list of inhabitants of 1699 with his brother, Charles (born1676), who followed the same trade. Walter Archer died in about 1744-45.

In the 18th century, Hook-and-Spike clocks were a cheaper alternative to the brass lantern clock and full longcase 30-hour clocks of the day. In essence, it was a smaller thirty-hour longcase which in fact had no case, but was made with the hoop and spurs with which the lantern clock had always been equipped, and which could thus be hung from any convenient wall hook, exactly as the lantern clock had done. It would have been a very popular and much more affordable clock to own.

Hook-and Spike

Wall Clocks

Aknowledgement

My thanks go out to Brian Loomes for allowing me to use any previously published material of his own work on Walter Archer which I have used here.