Moses Evans, Llangernyw, c1751.

This is my latest clock dial restoration, a Welsh clock by Moses Evans of Llangernyw. The customer was keen to keep the corners original, so I just worked on cleaning, the signature, and the black and gold work. The cleaning was straight forward on the dial, but the date wheel was in awful condition – thick with hard black oil that had built up over the years. After cleaning inking in the blackwork was quite straight forward – I followed exactly what was originally on the dial, the numbers, lines, lettering and ornamentation are exactly as the original would have been. The Welsh amongst you may have noticed that Llangerniew is actually spelt Llangernyw, this often happened because many of the artists who worked on these dials were unable to read and write, often foreign (Italian) and spelled phonetically, a steady hand was more important in this job!

I’m quite pleased with the ornamentation around the date wheel window which was almost invisible because the ink had faded completely; I think it shows how ornate the dial originally was.

The following information is taken from ‘Clock and Watch Makers in Wales’ by (Iorwerth C. Peate, 3rd Edition 1975) which shows that the maker might have had three shops in different towns, or possibly moved from town to town during his career.

“Evans –
Moses. Llanddoged. 1780-1819. (North Wales Weekly News 5.9.1935). Clock (‘a fine example of Welsh craftsmanship’) dated by G.J. Mayor as ‘about 1750’ (North Wales Weekly News, 19.9.1935). L.c. clock, brass dial, at Colwyn Bay, Denb.
Moses. Llangernyw. L.c clocks at Bangor and Flint. A clock at Dolwen, Denb., has it’s case inscribed 1751. Dresser clock (No. 41) in W.F.M.
Moses. Llanrwst. L.c. clock at Llansannan, Denb.
Note. – The three last named, at Llanddoged, Llangernyw, and Llanrwst, are almost certainly the same person.”