Object Description
A rare French ships wall clock in a heavy circular patinated brass case, with a hinged cast brass bevel-glazed bezel, 10 inches in diameter.
The bezel is fitted with a silvered sight ring to the inner circumference and is secured shut by lock and key.
The clock has an excellent quality eight-day gong striking movement, striking the hours and the passing of the half hour on a coiled gong. A silvered platform lever escapement is mounted on the top, most unusually incorporating a rack-and pinion regulation adjustment. The platform is numbered 78159, and the movement backplate is stamped with the oval trademark of GAY VICARINO & Co., PARIS, G. V over a serial number 3821.
The unsigned 8- inch round silvered dial has a regulation square beneath the XII. It is well engraved with black-filled Roman numerals.
Very fine blued steel spade hands.
Apart from the hanging bracket, the case is fitted with a further two pierced lugs to its circumference for secure wall-mounting.
Diameter : 25cms
Depth: 9cms
Overhauled and guaranteed for 3 years.
Emile Gay was listed in 1861 with premises at 20 Red Lion Square, London. He became associated with Vicarino and together they opened a workshop in Paris at 5 rue Beranger. Gay became a member of Chambre Syndicale de l’Horlogerie de Paris which was composed of prominent clockmakers in Paris who met regularly and published a journal Revue Chronométrique, documenting their activities. The pages of this journal contained many reports of ….. participation of Gay, Vicarino et Comp. in sponsoring awards and recognition for apprentices and workers employed by those clockmakers. [source: paper by Thomas R. Wotruba on the Patent Surety Roller, on Antiquarian Horology archives]
Gay Vicarino & Co. are listed in Britten’s ‘Old Clocks & Watches and their Makers’ as having premises in London in 1864-75.