Antique Wall Clocks & Barometers

Wall clocks became an essential part of life in the early 19th century when a change in social life meant that good time keepers were required in both industrial and domestic places. In the late 19th century American and German makers produced quality clocks at a much more affordable price.

Barometers come in 2 different types, early examples use mercury in a glass tube to detect air pressure changes, where later examples, known as aneroid barometers, use a vacuum capsule.

	American Drop Dial Wall Clock Stock No:  2919 Circa: Late 19th Century Dial Diameter:  12 Inches Price:  £480.00 William Pierce was a successful clock retailer based in Stratford upon Avon.  There is evidence to show that he and his father both made a wide range of wall clocks and longcase clocks but William made a great success of bringing in to the country American made wall clocks which he then had his name put on the dial and retailed them.  At a time when all clocks were very expensive this was a revolutionary idea and was met with great success.  Early examples such as this are finished with high quality veneers with delicate inlay work and are certainly worth attention.  Later examples are not built to the same quality and as a result American clocks fell out of favour in the early 20th century.  This is probably one of the finest examples of a wall clock bearing the Pierce name that I have ever seen.		Mahogany Wheel Barometer Stock No:  2886 Circa:  1840 Height:  38Inches Price:  £745.00 John Pensa is a well recorded barometer maker working in Hatton Garden, London between 1835 and 1840 when he clearly died and the business was taken on by his wife Margaret until 1848. A classic well made barometer of the period with fine edge line detail in ebony and satin wood, beautifully engraved dials with fine decoration, and original mercury thermometer. This style of barometer was popular throughout the second half of the 19thcentury though clearly this was an early example of the use of a short thermometer and butlers mirror, a style which was to become the most popular of all barometer types.
	English Dial Wall Clock Stock No:  2961 Circa: Late 19th Century Dial Diameter:  10 Inches Price:  £850.00 J.Walker is not a recorded maker in the late 19thcentury but this is not unusual as a great many of these practical wall clocks were made to suit industrial sites such as factories and railways and they were made in such numbers that the manufacturer often went unrecorded.  This example has a very attractive small 10 inch diameter dial with heavy cast brass bezel and bevelled glass making it exceptional quality for a clock of the period.		Round Aneroid Barometer Stock No:  2496 Circa:Early 20th Century Diameter: 9 inches Price:  £325.00 A classic oak cased barometer of the early part of the twentieth century with a well made and delicately carved oak case of a traditional rope pattern design. The porcelain dial is decorated with red and black numerals and retains its original hands, bezel and glass. The movement, which is fully restored, is of similar high quality although fair weather cannot be guaranteed!
	12 Inch English Dial Wall Clock Stock No:  2918 Circa:  1885 Dial Diameter:  16 Inches Price:  £725.00 Hurt and Son are recorded as working in Birminghambetween 1870 and 1886.  As they were sited in the centre of Birmingham it is more than likely that they were jewellers but there workshop had the ability to make clocks.  In the late 19th century this form of high quality single fusee timepiece was in great demand as every school, factory and railway station needed clear practical clocks that were both robust and accurate.  Their charming clear practical design makes them very appealing today for all of the same reasons and they have the bonus of the attractive ticking pendulum.		English Drop Dial Wall Clock Stock No:  2881 Circa:  Late 19thCentury Dial Diameter:  12  Inches Price:  £745.00 Records show Mr Rickards as working in Ryde in the Isle of Wight in the late 19thcentury having moved from Sussex.  Little else is known of this maker which is typical of clock making of this period.  The high quality fusse movement was built for reliability and accuracy and is such a high standard that over a century on it is still in immaculate condition.  The classic white dial with original blued steel hands was built for its clarity yet with the addition of the lower case and visible pendulum the maker was making the clock to be both attractive and practical.  The result is a lovely slow beating English wall clock which has great appeal in a modern home environment over a hundred years after it was first made!
	Ships Clock Stock No:  2836 Circa: Early 20th century Dial Diameter:  7 Inches Price:  £665.00 Smiths, the clock makers of Cricklewood, were a well established family business making clocks up until the 2ndWorld War.  Their movements were always made to a high specification with a fully jewelled lever escapement so as to ensure a great degree of accuracy when the clock was moving around on the high seas!  This particular clock has a very high quality enamel dial which makes it easy to read, and the case is made of high quality cast brass with a heavy brass dial bezel.  These are all qualities often not found in a typical ships clock and therefore make this example quite collectable.