A Victorian figured mahogany eight-day precision longcase clock Thomas Porthouse, London, mid 19th century The substantial four pillar rack and bell striking movement with deadbeat escapement regulated by large lenticular bob wooden-rod seconds pendulum suspended from a beam applied to the top of the plates, the 12 inch circular cream painted Roman numeral dial with subsidiary seconds over signature THO'S PORTHOUSE, 10 Northampton Squ'e, LONDON to centre and with steel moon hands, the architectural case with triangular tympanum over cavetto cornice and circular cast brass hinged glazed bezel flanked by canted angles to hood, the trunk with rectangular caddy moulded door veneered in fine flame veneers over conforming plinth base with moulded skirt, 201cm (79ins) high. Thomas Porthouse is recorded in Betts, Jonathan MARINE CHRONOMETERS AT GREENWICH as born circa 1794 and possibly related to the Porthouse family of clockmakers from Penrith, Cumbria. He is recorded in 1828 as working from 210 High Street (Poplar) and then '10 Northampton Goswell Street' from circa 1835. Porthouse was primarily a maker of marine chronometers with a number of his timepieces appearing successfully in the Greenwich trials from 1823. He is also known to have made complicated watches. Thomas Porthouse died on 1860 with his business apparently continued by his widow before becoming Porthouse and French in 1864.