Object Description
An English electric clock invented by Thomas John Murday in 1908 (Patent No. 22,819), modified in Patent No.1326 in 1910 and manufactured by The Reason Manufacturing Company, Brighton, England.
It is an aesthetically pleasing clock, though not without its engineering shortcomings. Probably for this reason only about 300 were apparently made, and of this only about 80 had glass dials according to research by Charles K. Aked published in Antiquarian Horology, December 1970.
This clock is numbered 202 and retains the original glass Roman dial chapter and blue steel hands. On the various chatrooms and websites that I have seen, documenting people’s own examples, I have not seen a lower serial number than this. No doubt they exist, but it may be relevant that this is the only example I have seen with two hairsprings. There are several interesting differences to even serial number 206, which would not have impacted on the timekeeping capabilities, but would certainly have taken longer to manufacture –
The horizontal bar that holds the hairsprings has well-engineered fittings. In later models this appears to slot into the uprights.
The U-shaped fork that pushes the gear train is a profiled 1-piece brass section secured by a nut and bolt. Later this became more akin to a piece of bent wire.
The brass framework has a spotted finish applied, which is later foregone.
The skeletonised movement is supported on two slender columns centred above a large balance wheel with two blued steel hairsprings. The 5-inch diameter nickel/steel alloy balance rim carries a Hipp Toggle . A long steel spring passes over a notched receiver at each oscillation. With each oscillation it loses amplitude, so after a while the steel spring does not pass across the notched receiver but instead lands in it, completing the electrical circuit. The electromagnet is energised, and the balance is once again impulsed via a pin and armature.
The clock has a locking device to raise the balance wheel for transporting the clock.
A brass name plate on the base is stamped as follows:
ELECTRIC CLOCK
MADE BY
THE REASON MFG CO. LTD.
BRIGHTON
MURDAY’S PATENT
The clock is mounted on a turned circular mahogany base which discreetly houses the two batteries. It is protected under a round glass dome.
The clock is overhauled and is keeping very good time.