How does a moon dial work?

A mechanical gear train inside the movement rotates a painted disc behind two curved apertures on the dial arch. This disc completes one full rotation roughly every twenty-nine and a half days to mirror the lunar cycle. Provincial clockmakers built these mechanisms into eight-day longcase clocks so owners could track both time and tide or moon phases without manual adjustment.

Are these clocks eight-day or thirty-hour?

The pieces seen here predominantly feature eight-day movements requiring a weekly weight wind using a crank key. This longer duration suited larger households and finer provincial homes. Thirty-hour movements also exist in early regional clocks, driven by single weights that required winding daily or slightly more often.

Where were these clocks made?

British provincial clockmakers produced these longcase clocks across various towns and cities, from Lancashire and Cheshire to Scotland and the Midlands. Makers signed their names directly onto the painted iron dials. Local cabinetmakers constructed the mahogany and oak cases to house the specific movements supplied by regional horologists.

How do I care for a longcase clock?

Position the clock on a stable floor away from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations that affect wood and internal mechanism expansion. Ensure the case stands level to keep the pendulum swinging evenly. Wind the weights carefully once a week if it is an eight-day movement, and have a professional horologist service the gear train periodically.