The most popular style of English antique wall clock is the Fusee dial clock often referred to as a school, office or railway clock.
The most popular style of English wall clock is the fusee dial clock often referred to as a school, office or railway clock because of where people may have seen them and thus associate them with. The dial clock was however a v...
The most popular style of English wall clock is the fusee dial clock often referred to as a school, office or railway clock because of where people may have seen them and thus associate them with. The dial clock was however a very fine quality domestic wall clock with examples made by all the important makers of the period from the styles emergence in the 1770s.
The fusee mentioned is the tapered cone in the movement which is designed to even out the power of the mainspring. Although the fusee involved extra work and materials their successfulness has been debated and the inclusion of a fusee cannot be seen as a sign of a good dial clock as they were used on all dial clocks well into the twentieth century, they do however indicate the clock is almost certainly English.
The earliest indigenous English clock is the lantern clock made from the early 1600's, the first examples being pre-pendulum, of 12 hour duration and weight driven. The lantern clock features despite still looking similar, (wall mounted, predominately made of brass and shaped like a lantern with a bell on top) developed at a varying pace through the ever changing and sometimes turbulent 17th century. By the time of Charles 2nd the movement now incoporated a pendulum instead of a balance wheel and although still made by the very best makers the clock was less prestigious compared to the longcase and bracket clocks.
Other English wall clocks include the cartel and tavern clock both seen as the predecessors of the dial clock. The cartel is distinguished by it's carved wood and gilt case, the movement spring driven with a verge escapement. The tavern clock is a larger weight driven clock usually in a lacquered case decorated with chinoiserie. Called tavern clocks because their size lent them to use in public spaces they are sometimes referred to as Act of Parliament clocks because of the nearly disastrous tax applied to clocks in 1797, a misnomer as the clock had been developing as a style for nearly fifty years.
Another English weight driven wall clock are a smaller hooded version of the 30hr longcase but can be very attractive with weights and pendulum exposed. The movements owe much in construction and layout to earlier lantern clock
