Hello from Gorgeous Tennessee

[AmyV]

Hello! I am here to gain some knowledge about a collection of watches, clocks (with pendulums), watchmaker benches, and tools. We have inherited some items and want to learn more about them. 

[Nucejoe]

Welcome to WRT forum.

[watchweasol]

Hello and welcome to the forum,  There are many books on the subject of Horology, If your interest is in collecting clocks and watches then here is a few starters, Brittans Old Clocks and Watches. History of Clocks and Watches  by , Bruton.  Timepieces by David Christianson. These are but a sample there are many more and also on the repair of clocks and Watches and also tools and their uses. You could probably fill a a room and then some.

[oldhippy]

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

I will need to see the movements and their cases when it comes to clocks. 

[clockboy]

Welcome, pictures are very helpful for I’d,s etc. Enjoy the forum

[AmyV]

Hello again! I have included pictures below to see if anyone would know anything about this bench. We inherited this from someone who worked on watches and clocks. I would love to know an approximate value (USD) if anyone if familiar with this particular one. We can't decide if we want to sell it or keep it in the family. Any help is appreciated!

[watchweasol]

Hi Amy  that one nice bench, cleaned and polished/waxed it would make a nice piece of furniture. Me I wouldn't part with it it has a history and family connection and as it stands a classic. Keep it.

[AmyV]

Thank you so much @watchweasol I would love to know more about it. I can't find any type of branding or identifying details. Fingers crossed someone here knows more about it.

[jdm]

1 hour ago, AmyV said:

I can't find any type of branding or identifying details.

I think your piece predate by much the time when cabinetry started having brands. Material houses also sold tools and benches, it's logical to suppose they had them made in small batches from the most convenient reputable supplier. And any good local woodworker was supposed to be able to make one based on a drawing or customer requirements.

[watchweasol]

I think jdm is spot on .  a lot of these benches were custom build to order by local craftsmen and as such have no makers plates. You could pull the drawers and have a close look at them. Some furniture that was hand made,  the underside of a drawer was marked but not always the case.

[oldhippy]

If you look in old books about watchmaking and the tools they used, you will see pictures of workbenches in the style of the one you have, some even include the foot wheel inside to operate the lathe which would be screwed on the bench. 

[KarlvonKoln]

Welcome to the forum.  Oh what a beautiful workbench!  Just lovely.  I seriously doubt I could speculate how much money you could get from selling it.  I know hand-crafted furniture is not cheap stuff, especially these days.  And I'm sure that bench is worth more than I could afford.  But then, I'm the sort to encourage the owner to keep it rather than sell it.  It looks like something you'd miss later.  And if not used for watches, it would make a fine desk. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[AmyV]

We have decided to sell it, but thank you for all of the input. I have no idea on pricing but wanted to find out as much as we could before deciding that we just don't have the room for it currently.

[watchweasol]

Hi  thats a shame  its such a historical piece, but understand if there is no room.  Prices seem to be between £750 and £1200 on the net so I would say around the £1000- mark. would be interested to know what it goes for and hopefully to some one who will use it.  

[AmyV]

Thank you @watchweasol!

[Michael1962]

Welcome to the forum Amy.

I'm sort of with the other guys. If you have any interest in undertaking watchmaking or clockmaking, I'd be keeping the desk. I do understand the 'we don't have room for it' thing as well.

Best of luck with everything.

[LittleWatchShop]

Well, I inherited my Dad's watch bench and have since bought two more. Working theory is that you cannot have too many watch benches.

[oldhippy]

My theory is you can never have a big enough workshop.