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It is only during the past few years that American mass produced clocks have been repaired and have even become collectable in the United Kingdom.
Their quality, compared to the average British made or even German made clock, was considered to be so low that any repairer worth his salt, refused to waste his time on them.
Now, however, prices have escalated as the clocks have become rarer and whereas in the past American Clocks could be bought for a few pounds, they are now lovingly restored and appropriately highly priced.
Such large quantities were sold at one time that they were even copied in Germany and Japan.
America, being a young country, did not produce the large quantities of seventeenth and eighteenth century classical masterpieces that were produced in Britain and Europe.
The early clockmakers, being emigrants, were already into the nineteenth century. Their products never left America and are today collected avidly in the USA.
It was not until the 1870s and up to the early part of this century that mass produced American Clocks began to be exported all over the world. Names like Ansonia, New Haven, Waterbury, Seth Thomas and Sessions, began to be known.
Dials, pallets, suspension springs can now be supplied by us, as well as many other replacement parts that will make any American Clock that passes through your hands exactly like it was when it was new. Related Products |
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Although The Clockmakers Company was formed in 1631, it was not until 1660, the restoration of the monarchy, and with the ending of austerity that British clockmaking really took off. Even then, it was still necessary to be very rich to be the owner of a clock.
Bracket Clocks were supplied originally with a bracket for mounting on the wall, but now, the term is applied to any clock that is fitted on a shelf, or stands on a cabinet or piece of furniture.
Many eminent makers, with the introduction of the Bracket Clock, saw an opportunity to produce something really superb, because it had now become possible to apply artistic qualities with engineering skill. Clocks enjoyed patronage by very rich people, from royal families downwards. The most famous clockmakers, Tompion, Quare, Fromanteel and Knibb to name only a few, vied with each other to produce ever more lavish clocks than had been produced before, resulting in complicated astronomical and musical clocks. Many of these still survive and their beauty is such, that it is almost unbelievable. As Bracket Clocks appeared in larger numbers they became less ornate. It is even possible to roughly date a clock by it's richness, although it should never be used as a method. |
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Always, when Carriage Clocks are referred to, one thinks of French Carriage Clocks imported into Britain in very great numbers in the latter part of the nineteenth and into the twentieth century.
Although Carriage Clocks appeared even very late in the eighteenth century, they were, until the middle of the nineteenth century mostly hand made, or semihand made and great makers like Breguet or Garnier were involved.
The serious manufacture of carriage clock movements was largely a cottage industry seen at St Nicholas D'Aliermont, nr. Dieppe or in the region of Montbeliard on the borders of Switzerland, where movements in the rough - blanc roulants - copying the system where Swiss makers bought rough ebauches for watches, were produced. Cases, dials, escapements and hands were then bought from other places and the whole thing finished and assembled by the factories concerned.
The undoubted high quality of carriage clocks generally meant that many great clockmakers became involved in their manufacture. In England, Switzerland and Germany, all sorts of complications were featured, but the great mass of carriage clocks always emanated from France. Towards the end of the nineteenth century mass produced clocks from America entered the market but their sale was limited. Right up to the period of the Great War - 1914-18, France continued producing carriage clocks, but after the Great War they somehow fell out of favour until modern times, when the demand is such that many factories in Britain are now reproducing carriage clocks of all kinds. Related Products |
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The first Lantern Clocks appeared about 1600, although to find one of such an early date would be nothing short of a miracle.
They had only one hand, ran for 30 hours, struck the hours and were mainly produced during the eighteenth century. They were made either with birdcage type movements or plated movements, motive power being provided by just one heavy weight and a small counter weight to keep the driving chain or rope taut. Originally, they were mostly fitted with verge escapements, but because of bad timekeeping, they have, over the years, nearly all been converted to anchor escapements.
Movements were constructed in two ways, either with the going and striking main wheels side by side or behind one another. The endless chain or rope is fitted thus.
It is extremely rare to find a Lantern Clock that has not been converted in some way - there were even clocks originally made of wood and they have been reproduced in very large numbers, but after all, anything from 200 to 300 years have passed since they first appeared. |
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After Henry C. Work, an American, had written a song called 'My Grandfather Clock' in 1876, Long Case clocks, which had been adequately named for more than two hundred years, became popularly known as Grandfather Clocks.
Although Long Case clocks were first introduced in the middle of the seventeenth century, it was not until early in the eighteenth century that break arch dials were used, until then they had always been square. Similarly, hoods on cases on the earliest clocks were all raised and lowered to gain access to the movement, but with the advent of lower ceilings it became necessary to slide the hood forward.
The earliest clocks were always owned by very wealthy people and being pieces of furniture and made especially to match the surroundings, were extremely richly inlaid or carved.
Designers, like Chippendale and Sheraton, produced designs and although there are no known specimens attributed to either of these, clocks are still described as having Chippendale, Hepplewhite or Sheraton features.
It was during the eighteenth century that Long Case clocks developed from only being produced by the more famous clockmakers, emanating mainly from London. The quality and price gradually declined, although there were exceptions of course and this is reflected in their collectability and price.
All through the nineteenth century, the demand for Long Case clocks increased, as more and more people could afford them. Movements, cases and dials produced by small factories were sent to hundreds of towns and villages throughout the British Isles and personalised as required. Related Products |
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Dial Clocks, in all probability, evolved from Tavern Clocks, or as they are often known, Act of Parliament Clocks. This is really a misnomer, as while Tavern Clocks first appeared in 1720, it was not until 1797 that George III was sufficiently badly advised to raise a tax on clocks and watches. 10/- for gold watches. 5/- for clocks and 2/6 for silver and metal watches, resulting in the disappearance through failure of nearly half the clock and watch trade.
Until the early 18th century, the great masses of the people had simply not been time conscious, working while there was still work to do, and being regulated only by the rising and setting sun.
Coaching then grew and it became necessary to have a standard by which to regulate life, so that gradually in all public places, inns, churches, banks and factories, Tavern Clocks began to appear.
They were mounted on the wall, very high up and were large enough to be seen by all.
They were always with Roman Figures, as an uneducated person had only 3 figures to remember, namely I, V and X. These clocks were large and expensive and it is only natural that from these a cheaper clock evolved.
As coaches were replaced by trains, every station was supplied with a Dial Clock and Dial Clocks appeared in schools, hospitals, church halls and counting houses. Related Products |
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Vienna Regulators were made in Austria from the year 1800, enjoying about 100 years of popularity and they were always of very high quality.
The movements were usually hand made and fitted with a dead beat escapement. While they were always weight driven, even the weights and pendulum reflected the quality of the movements, which were produced in Timepiece, Strike and Chime, being always brass encased, so that even when old they always looked good. Among the names famous in the making of Vienna Regulators are Alois Stadler and Wenzel Schonberger, both in Wien.
In the Black Forest in Germany many factories copied these clocks as their timekeeping was impeccable. Prominent among them were Gustav Becker and Lenzkirch, in fact Lenzkirch was said to have gone out of business because he found it difficult to maintain the extremely high quality.
The American factories also produced 'Vienna' Regulators but they were of much inferior quality. Related Products |
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