Object Description
A superb nineteenth century eight day grande sonnerie carriage clock of typical size, c. 1870. The gilt-brass gorge case has glass panels to all sides, and there is a viewing window with an extra mask at the top showing the escapement. It is surmounted by a shaped carrying handle and a repeat button and has its original gilding.
The spring-driven movement consists of going and striking trains, as well as an alarm. The going train has its original lever escapement on a silvered platform. The striking has three different positions, which are set by a lever in the bottom plate: strike, silence and quarters. The grande sonnerie system strikes the hours and the quarter hours on all quarters on two gongs of different pitch, whereas with quarters (petite sonnerie), it only strikes the hour on the hour and the quarter hours on the quarters. The repeat will always strike the hour and the last quarter hours struck.
The rectangular enamel dial is marked in the following manner
W. JOHNSON
54 THREADNEEDLE ST
Royal Exchange
LONDON.
It has a Roman chapter ring with five-minute and minute divisions. The time is indicated by a delicate pair of blued steel Breguet hands. The lower Roman dial has a small blued-steel hand indicating the alarm time.
The clock has just been fully restored and comes with a two-year guarantee.
Height: 17.5cm with handle up (14 handle down)