South Yorkshire Times, January 26th, 1934
Quaint Clock
Wath Family Heirloom
Fine Specimen
This looks like a candlestick, but it is not. Actually, it is a clock. If you look closely you will see on the front a small dial with Roman numerals and a hand which has kept the time faithfully for centuries. The other hand is missing. This clock has been handed down through six generations and now belongs to Mr. Arthur Eady James of 12, Vicar Road, Wath. As far as Mr. James can trace, this quaint timepiece must have been made long before 1760. Records kept in an old Bible (handed down with the clock), reveal that it belonged to his great-great-great grandfather, “Eli James, baptised in the year 1769.” Nothing is known regarding any previous owner, but Mr. James believes that the clock has never been out of the family. Mr. James comes from old Northamptonshire stock, living at Earls Barton, and he told our representative that as far as he can tell the Eady branch of the family (his middle name) were the clockmakers, specialising in their time on church clocks.
The Falstaffian figure, cast in bronze, is typical of watchmen of the period. The right hand is extended holding a flaming torch (now used as a candlestick), while the left hand holds a bell which the figure swings on each hour. A mantle ingeniously disposed onto the back of the figure hides the works, and a small hole allows the spring to be wound. There is one interesting little fact about this clock – the original key has never been lost through the centuries!
The Bible referred to was “Diligently compared and revised with the Greek version by His Majesty’s special command.” It was printed by the Clarendon Press, W. Jackson and A. Hamilton, Printers to the Universities and fold” by W. Dawson at the Oxford Bible Works, Paternoster Row, London 1785.” As in most family Bibles, the generations have been recorded and it is by this means that Mr. James estimates the age of the clock.