Frederick Wingate of Augusta, Maine. No. 123. A Maine Clockmaker. A Maine tall clock. UU-73.
This is a well-proportioned mixed woods case tall clock made by Frederick Wingate of Augusta, Maine, circa 1813.
This country form features a case constructed from several indigenous woods, mostly birch, which retains its original red wash. This process is common to clocks in this region and is believed to disguise the local wood to look like imported mahogany. The waist door is made of figured maple. Its lighter color contrasts sharply with the darker red wash. The grain pattern of the maple shows good tiger striping, which is eye-catching. The secondary wood is New England white pine. The case stands on cutout bracket feet that retain excellent height. They are visually separated from the base by simple applied molding. The maple waist door is rectangular and trimmed with a molded edge. The front corners of the waist section have turned quarter columns, nicely formed with shaping and ring-turned designs. Both end in turned wooden quarter capitals. The bonnet features a New England-style fretwork pattern, a pleasing design with three original brass finials mounted atop the finial plinths. The bonnet columns are smoothly turned and subtly shaped. They are free-standing and secured in brass capitals. The arched bonnet door is fitted with glass and opens to access the clock's dial.
This dial is colorfully painted by the Nolen & Curtis (Samuel) firm of Boston (1814-1822). The artistry is excellent. The arch features a conch shell surrounded by lacy gilt decorations. The four spandrel areas are decorated with red, green, and gold patterns. A gilt ring frames the time ring. Arabic numerals mark the five-minute positions, separated from the Roman hour numerals by a dotted minute ring. The dial also shows the month's date and subsidiary seconds in their traditional locations. Below the calendar, it is signed "Frederic Wingate," includes his working location "Augusta," and is numbered "No. 123." The dial is in incredible original condition. Note the wonderfully shaped steel hands.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and of good quality. Four turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement uses a recoil design. The movement is weight-driven and runs for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train, time-and-strike design with a rack-and-snail striking system. It strikes the hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.
This clock was made circa 1813.
Inventory number UU-73.
Frederick Wingate was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on January 11, 1782, and died in Augusta, Maine, on November 16, 1864. His parents were William Wingate (1745-1821) and Mehitable (Bradley) Wingate (1747-1796). His older brother, Paine Wingate (1767-1833), worked as a clockmaker in Boston as early as 1789 and returned to Haverhill before 1795, possibly giving him the chance to train Frederick. On January 17, 1806, Frederick married Hannah Page of Haverhill, and that same year, they moved to Augusta, Maine. A label inside one of his tall clocks from 1806 says he had for sale "good warranted Brass Eight Day Clocks, well finished and as handsome as can be purchased in the metrolopus. Also – Warranted WATCHES... / CHAINS, SEALS, KEYS & etc."
In 1814, Frederick served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Soon after, he began advertising different military goods for sale.
Frederick worked as a silversmith, watchmaker, and clockmaker, and became one of Maine's most prolific clockmakers. He may have learned his trade in Massachusetts before moving to Augusta. As a clockmaker, he made many tall clocks, as well as some banjo and mirror clocks. Many of his tall clock dials are numbered, with the lowest recorded by our family being 15 and the highest 302. In 1808, Frederick taught Benjamin Swan, who was from Augusta, to make clocks. Swan's clocks are often very similar to Frederick's, sharing features like case design, contrasting woods, and Nolen & Curtis dials. Many Augusta clocks also use figured maple in the waist door and base panel, have distinctively shaped waist and hood columns, and Boston-painted dials by Spencer Nolen. Quite a few Wingate clocks still have their original setup labels, which are usually pasted inside the waist door and help date the clocks.
