Featured 1771 grandfather clock

Hi,
I hope this is the correct forum for this clock. I didn't see one specifically for clocks or watches, so..
Along with other items my husband and I ended up with this grandfather clock that belonged to his parents.
It looks to be made of mahogany? The face has a signature of sorts that says " Benjamin Morris, Hilltown. #16".
The hood comes off and the works all look to be in order, though I've never seen it running. Inside the hood it's stamped with a date "1771" and initials that are "WH" or "HM" depending which way you look at it.
My husband wants to insure it but we haven't the foggiest idea what it might be worth.
I understand there was a Benjamin Morris clock maker who lived in Hilltown PA in the later 1700's so it's a fair bet this is one of his. I've only found 2 clocks by him online and one was walnut and I believe 1790-ish that sold for 5k. The other has been for sale at an online auction site asking 20k, but it's been sitting for several years. I just think the wood is beautiful! It looks like it had feet at one time that are now gone, and had 3 posts on top of the hood at one time, the end 2 of which are missing now, and the hinges for the front were replaced and the face glass looks replaced. Other than that it looks all there.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

This one has a similar case though the face is different. It sold this year for $1,000. Has the face on yours been polished? It looks very shiny (but then I don't know much about clocks)

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/64950471_benjamin-morris-tall-case-clock

 

I wonder whether someone also replaced the face when other work was being done. That very shiny one looks out of place for an 18 C. clock. What is the small square in the face just above the 6?

 

date....?
or
Seconds..

 

Yeah, I know little about clocks either, yes it is mahogany, pretty but i have no clue if period, can't see the wood construction & pics are blurry. Wait for the clock people

 

Thank you.

 

I think even 'clock people' are going to say those images are too blurry to tell much...........can you re-post some clearer ones please???? PRETTY PLEASE????? BTW, I cropped and rotated that date......

 

Thank you, and yes I will try tomorrow when I have AM light to take better pictures.

 

It does appear to be a late 18th C. 30 hour long case clock in a decent case. The brass dial may well have been re-silvered as much as 20 or 30 years ago, this is quite normal and does give the dial a newer looking appearance. It also makes it much easier to read the time, which is why brass dials were silvered in the first place, and why the introduction of painted dials in the late 18th C almost did away with brass dials.
I can see nothing to suggest it is any way a wrong'un. I would rate it on the better side of average for quality, but it needs to be remembered that 30 hour clocks sell for less than 8 day clocks and price comparisons need to be like for like. The liveauctioneers example has a painted dial but is a 30 hour. Brass dial clocks do tend to fetch a bit more than similar painted dial clocks.

I have no idea what the US market for long case clocks is like, it is very much a buyer's market in England at present. The relative rarity of US longcase clocks makes a great difference, I imagine. There is no need to find the same maker for a price comparison, any 30 hour brass dial clock from the late 18th C will in essence be the same thing, local market variables will be more important than details of the individual clock.
For a value for insurance it is fair enough to use typical retail prices, which are often double auction prices.

 

Yes, I have heard that from dealers here in USA, 30 hr clocks are a tougher sell. One of the foremost dealers i know of is Gary Sullivan in Sharon Ma, he restores clocks as well, you might consider sending an email with photos & see if he responds.

https://www.garysullivanantiques.com/Inventory/CatID/1/LiveAccId/4340

 

Rxwoman, nice PA clock. Did it have a finial between the broken arched top? PA clock/case makers have been pretty well documented. If you are in PA, you might want to go to one of the historical societies (take pictures with you to compare) and research the maker and look at more of his clocks and cases. My FIL was well versed in Lancaster County makers and wrote several booklets about them. Some even have a history of ownership of the clocks.

You can have the missing parts replaced (based on pictures of his other known clocks) by a local craftsman, ie. probably had small bracket feet.
Patd

 

There are also these two brothers in West Townsend, MA.....they are on Antiques Roadshow frequently.......

http://delaneyantiqueclocks.com/

 

I'd say this clock needs an in person examination to determine much of anything (value, cost of restoration, etc) by a qualified tall clock person. The finials missing is not a big deal in my view as they often are on 18th century furniture, the feet missing though is another matter as that is considered structural and does lower value.

 

Yes, it does. But there are two places where finials should go that are not there, so it originally had three on top.

 

I tried taking better pics of details. Someone did a bad job replacing the glass, and replacing the face frame, as it is cockeyed and rubs the wood. I looked closer at the face and it does look like silver that someone shined up recently. If not silver, what kind of metal might the face be made of. There's a note from the 80's that my mother in law left in it that states where it was purchased and who they thought made it (they read it wrong) and that the chain is made of silver. Yes, I need someone to examine it in person. Thank you to everyone for your input!

 

Yes, absolutely, as it seems prior "fixes" were poorly done. It would not cost much if anything to have a qualified clock person examine & price a correct restoration.

 

The dial is brass, as already stated. It is silvered by rubbing it with silver chloride, a simple chemical process used long before silver plating and OK for things that fo not get much if any wear. Re-silvering dials is common today using the same methods. Typically the numbers are filed with black wax, this is redone at the same time if needed.
The chain is not silver, it is a fairly modern chain if silver coloured but is steel.

 

Thank you, afantiques! I missed the part about it being brass. And I guess my mother in law was misinformed regarding the chain. I appreciate your expertise.