30-hour clockworks installed into a built-in walnut corner cupboard with softwood interior painted white. Constructed in two parts: Upper section has an upper section of 3 doors, glazed central dial door flanked by two blind doors. Below are three glazed doors, central pendulum door flanked by two doors leading to shelves. Base section of cupboard has central false door flanked by two blind doors. Recent addition of brass lock escutcheons on all but dial door. Clock dial is white with paint decoration; calendar wheel; signed "John Hoff/ LANCASTER." Cupboard was built into home of Daniel Zittle/Sittle (1773-1855) of Lampeter Square and removed about 1887 by later owner Dr. J. Henry Musser. Plywood backing added then.
Clockworks by John Hoff (1776-1818), Lancaster Borough, and cubboard by an unknown joiner in the vicinity of Lampeter Square.
Provenance
From Daniel Zittle to son Cyrus Zittle who sold property in 1887 to Dr. J. Henry Musser (b. 1845 in Lampeter), where he practiced medicine1866-1916. Dr. Musser removed the clock to his Lampeter residence. Then removed to son William M. Musser's Lampeter home in 1923. Then given to his son (donor) in 1952 for his home at 1768 Rockvale Rd., Lancaster, PA. Then moved to home of donor's son William M. Musser, III at 1525 Mission Dr., Lancaster, PA. Finally gifted to Heritage Center May 26, 1994.
Fewer than six cupboards with centrally positioned clockworks are known. John Hoff's account book has an August 19, 1812 entry noting the sale of an alarm clock with 12" dial to Daniel Sittle of Lampeter Square, to be done in 2 months. Later entry notes "Took the Clock away Nov. 28, 1812"
Clock functions, minute hand partially broken and hour hand bent. Cupboard has old crazed finish, not original. Cornice molding replaced at right corner; side pieces of molding missing at mid-line; nail holes and damaged areas at lower sides and bottom edges where attached to floor and walls. Holes and indentations remain where missing latches were attached at four lower and middle doors. Mullions removed on glazed doors. Waist section gouged out at sides to allow pendulum room to swing.
Object ID
G.94.10.1
Credit
Gift of William Musser in memory of Dr. J. Henry Musser, Heritage Center Collection
Eight-day, tall case clock by John George Hoff, Sr., in a flat-top Chippendale walnut case.
Brass dial has pewter chapter ring with Roman numerals for the hour and Arabic numerals for the seconds. Separate seconds dial below XII. Pewter spandrels. "George Hoff" engraved at bottom of dial, above a calendar window. Painted moon wheel at top has moon on a field of stars.
Bonnet has molded cornice, arched door and arched side windows. Engaged columns at all four corners. Waist has wide chambered corners with lambequins at top and bottom. Door has arched top and molded edges; brass escutcheon (replaced?); door is hung by two brass steeple butt hinges. Base has plain sides and chamfered corners that match those at waist. Molding above four ogee bracket feet.
J.J. Snyder notes that this clock case with wide chamfers relates to other pieces with the same feature, e.g. G.03.1.1 (Jenkins family bookcase on desk) and P.78.76 (Old family bonnet top high chest). The Hoff clock chamfers, however, are not fluted like the large case pieces.
See photo of clock in Wood and Kramer's clock book, p. 37.
Provenance
Professor Kauffman said on 4-23-99 that he purchased this clock from a dealer after Joe Kindig refused it because it was a flat top. A receipt (now in file) was tacked to inside of clock case documenting the purchase from collector/dealer Melvin Hubley of Lancaster City in 1955 (cost $545).
Modest wear, right side light is cracked, molding missing at right side of waist at bottom. Base is scarred, some cracks, especially aroung feet and moldiing. Unfilled nail repair holes at base.
Finish has orange peel surface.
Object ID
G.96.37.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
Tall Case Clock, signed "John Hoff / LANCASTER" below center Eight-day musical clock has quarter chime on 4 bells. White dial has Arabic numerals; moon wheel at top; seconds hand and calendar hand, 3 winding arbor holes. Inner plate of clockworks is marked "OSBORNE." Purchased from Hoff in 1810 by John Kendig (1774-1822) of Willow Street.
Restrained scroll pediment and inverted stylized "shell" under center urn finial. Two side urn finials. Two-color roundels in place of rosettes. Veneer on bonnet door and figured veneer on face of pendulum door and base. Chamfered quarter columns. Flared feet and scrolled skirt.
Case attributed to Josiah Shufflebottom.
Provenance
Descent from John Kendig, original owner in Willow Street to son John Herr Kendig, Jr. of Willow Street to daughter Addah/Ada Louisa Kendig (married Franklin Harnish Bare, a watchmaker at Bowman's) of Lancaster City to son Kendig H. Bare of Lancaster to son Howard C. Bare of Lancaster (donor). Similar musical clock at Winterthur (#57.1026) made by George Hoff.
George Hoff, Sr., settled with his wife in Lancaster in 1765, shortly after immingrating to America from Germany. Already trained as a clockmaker, he taught his craft to his three sons who carried on the family business until the mid-1800s. The Hoffs' workshop and home were located at 37-39 West King Street, the site of the Hager parking lot.
Walnut flat-top tall case clock made by John George Hoff, Sr. Arched iron dial (circa 1770), has pewter attachments, a chapter ring, spandrels and lunette. Attachments probably made by Hoff himself. Roman numerals used with stylized fleur-de-lis half-hour markers.The two hands are wide and stubby, cut from iron sheeting. Asymmetrical winding arbor holes.
Bonnet has tall arched side windows. Plain columns on hood; plain quarter columns on waist and base. Thin molding at bottom of base.
Note: John J. Snyder, Jr. states "This is one of the finest flat-top clock cases from Lancaster County; it is distinguished by its molded platform on the hood, crisp cove molding of the cornice, and narrow waist section." (Clockmakers of Lancaster County, p. 36 and p.113).
