Carriage clocks – small, portable, spring-driven clocks with carrying handles – are among the most popular clocks with collectors today. Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), one of the leading French clockmakers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, developed this type of travelling clock, called in France a pendule de voyage, at the turn of the 19th century. Carriage clocks were made throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries mainly in France, although the largest market for them was in Britain and the USA.
FRANCE
The manufacture of carriage clocks was well established in France by the mid-19th century. Movements were usually made in the Franche-Comte region, Lyons, or Normandy, with the escapements produced by specialist artisans along the French–Swiss border. These escapements were placed on a horizontal platform at the top of the clock, visible through a glazed aperture and thus are called platform escapements. Similar to those used in watches, and are not affected by movement. Makers in Paris assembled the workings of the clock and the case and stamped their marks on the movement.
The cases of carriage clocks are usually rectangular: the earliest versions have a brass frame, cast in one piece, with bevelled glass panels on the front, sides,back, and top, revealing the movement. After c.1845 makers assembled cases from several parts, allowing greater variation in design.The finest cases were gilded and entirely engraved (including the rear door) with foliate or floral patterns. In the last quarter of the 19th century a relatively small number of carriage clocks with decorative enamel or porcelain panels were produced, which are now highly collectable. Most clocks were sold with close-fitting, leather-covered, wooden carrying cases, but few are still intact.
Dials are generally white enamelled copper, with blued-steel hands. As most French clocks were sold in Britain, the signature or name on the dial is often that of a British retailer. A serial number and
maker’s stamp may also appear on the movement. All French carriage clocks are of eight-day duration with a going barrel; some are timepieces (i.e. without a striking mechanism), while others have complex striking such as grande sonnerie (striking both the hour and the quarter hours). Many striking clocks also feature a repeat mechanism: when a button on top of the case is pressed, the last hour or quarter will strike again.
BRITAIN
In Britain carriage clocks were produced in smaller numbers than in France but they are generally of far higher quality, as they were made only by the best makers, often to order. They can be distinguished from French examples by their plainer and heavier cases. Movements feature a fusee instead of a going barrel. The signature on the dial (and
the backplate) is usually that of the maker; the firms of Frodsham, McCabe, and Dent were among the well-known British makers, and also retailed French clocks.
• the finest French cases have engraved gilt-brass frames with enamelled or porcelain panels
• DIAL French dials often feature the name of a British retailer; British dials more often give the maker’s name
• COLLECTING examples with original travelling case an winding key are sought after; more complex clocks more collectable; British clocks, usually higher quality. arc more valuable; replaced escapements reduce value

Tags: 19th century, 20th centuries, antiqu, antique, antique spelter commedia dell'arte characters, antique spindle leg 5 tier shelf, antique spindle leg daybed, antique spittoon made in england, antique spode ironstone, antique square table curved legs, antique square drop leaf kitchen table, antique square gateleg tables, antique square lion claw foot table, antique square oak table 5 legs, antique square six legged dining table, antique square tilt top table with onr iron leg and tw, antique statue of liberty hexagon lighter, antique stools pair, antique straight leg drop leaf table, antique style italy dining tables, antique style wooden cabriole feet designs, antique sutherland drop leaf tables, antique sutherland gateleg drop leaf table, antique swedish armchairs, antique swinging pendulum triangle shape clocks, antique table brass feet, antique table 2 v shape legs to form pedestal, antique table 4 large lion paws with nails for legs wit, antique table knives bone handle, antique table leg styles book, antique table linen press, antique table made of tin, antique table portuguese style, antique table tall square straight leg, antique table that folds flat, antique table tripod leg types, antique table with british monarchy portraits, antique table with cup-and-cover legs, antique table with extended legs, antique table with one side drop leaf, antique table with table shaft, antique tables eagle claws, artisans, backplate, brass frame, british retailer, carriage clocks, carrying cases, clockmaker, clockmakers, COLLECTING, design, DIAL, Dials, enamel, enamelled copper, escapements, floral patterns, foliate, Franche, french clocks, glass panels, hour, last quarter, louis breguet, manufacture, mechanism, Movements, normandy, ny, pendule, Porcelain, porcelain panels, quarter hours, rectangular, signature, steel hands, swiss border, timepiece, travelling clock
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 16th, 2009 at 9:50 pm and is filed under Clocks & Watches. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.