Clock wheel cutting machine used by Lancaster clockmaker Martin Shreiner, Sr. Made of steel and brass with turned wood handle knob on crank. Main frame of tool is steel resting on four rounded, downward-curving legs with coin-shaped feet. Many moving parts, arms and cranks/screws, including the swiveling cutting yoke/frame at top (cutter blade with arbor/spindle missing) and the shaped index arm that "reads" the holes on the 13"-diameter brass wheel furnished with concentric circles of surface holes.
The LaFonds call this a very sophisticated machine, incorporating Swiss, German and English ideas/influences. This indicates to them that the machine was made in America, very likely by Shreiner himself. It was imperative for clockmakers to own this tool to practice their trade. Few survive. This machine was first described in the early book or article (LCHS Bulletin) printed in 1917(or 1919) & 1939 by D. McGee who wrote about Lancaster clockmaking. Ed believes this machine to be "the finest American engine in existence" and that it very well may have been made by Shreiner, probably in the 1790s. The cutter blade was used to cut the teeth on the large brass wheels that turn the pinions. There would have been either a slitting cutter or a form cutter used. Carter Harris says form cutters were used by the 1790s.
Attributed to Martin Shreiner (1769-1866).
An 8x10 B&W photo is in picture file under "clocks." Also slide is in slide collection, #14-3-11.
Lancaster Borough, most likely
Provenance
Owned by two brothers, Samuel K. and William L. Fraser, clockmakers who lived in Lincoln (just west of Ephrata) and grandsons of clockmaker William Fraser (1801-1877), then to early collector Earl T. Strickler (FNAWCC) who had it on display at the Columbia Clock and Watch Museum. Upon Strickler's sudden death circa 1974, it was sold by his widow, Mary Jane Strickler, to Edward F., Jr. and Virginia A. LaFond who removed rust and kept it on a window sill. They then traded it to dealer Jamie Price for some clocks. Price had it on sale at the 2004 Philadelphia Antiques Show in mid-April where, as representative for the von Hess Foundation, Tom Cook, purchased it for this museum's collections.
Ed LaFond believes the Fraser family was related to the Gorgas family, thus they were in a position to inherit tools. Due to this, it was believed at first that both the machine and the scribe were from the Gorgas family. However, LaFond believes the Frasers were also related to the Shreiners. Stacy Wood claims this machine was one of Martin Shreiner's tools (Vol. 96, LCHS Journal).
Pitting on steel surfaces, slight discoloration on brass parts, signs of wear overall.
Object ID
G.04.19.1
Notes
Information from: Clockmakers of Lanc. Co., Wood/Kramer, 1977, p. 142. 225 Years of Timepieces (Catalog of 1st Annual Exh. of NAWCCM, 1979), p. 63. Stacy Wood researched origins and provenance of these tools and wrote article in Vol. 96 #4 of LCHS Journal. Conversations with Virginia LaFond ( 5/19/04), Ed LaFond (7/6/04) and Carter Harris (7/7/04).
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Usage
Shreiner, Martin
Credit
Gift of the Richard C. von Hess Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
