Early Clocks | Lee Borrett
Key-Wound 30-hour
c1668-1670
An Early
Key-Wound 30-hour
Pendulum Clock, c1668-1670
Among the clocks I enjoy researching most are the early provincial 30-hour pendulum clocks of the late seventeenth century, including longcase, hooded and wall clocks. Most surviving examples date from the 1680s and early 1690s, a period generally regarded—outside London—as marking the beginning of domestic clockmaking in many parts of rural England.
For many years, however, I hoped to find a surviving example dating much closer to the earliest years of pendulum clockmaking. Such clocks are exceptionally rare, particularly when they retain their original movements in an unaltered state. The anonymous clock illustrated here is one such survivor.
Dating from around 1668–1670, this remarkable key-wound 30-hour long pendulum clock survives with its original, fully developed anchor escapement. Made during the pioneering years of the anchor escapement, which is generally believed to have been developed in England during the late 1650s, it provides a fascinating glimpse into one of the most important periods in the development of English horology. Although anonymous, it was almost certainly made in or near London and survives today in an exceptional state of originality.
A Revolution in Timekeeping
When this remarkable clock was made around 1668–1670, English clockmaking was undergoing one of the greatest technological revolutions in its history.
For centuries, domestic clocks had been regulated by the verge escapement and balance wheel, a system that was reliable but relatively inaccurate. During the late 1650s the development of the anchor escapement, working in conjunction with the long pendulum, transformed mechanical timekeeping by greatly improving accuracy and reducing wear on the movement.
The anonymous maker of this clock belonged to the very first generation of English craftsmen to embrace this revolutionary technology. Rather than producing a traditional balance-wheel lantern clock, he created a long pendulum clock incorporating a fully developed anchor escapement, representing the future of English domestic clockmaking.
Although the invention of the pendulum clock is generally credited to the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who patented the concept in 1656, the development of the anchor escapement is widely believed to have taken place in England during the following decade.
Christiaan Huygens-painting. Portrait by Caspar Netscher, 1671. The invention of the pendulum clock is generally credited to the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in 1656. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The development of the anchor escapement has traditionally been associated with either the English scientist Robert Hooke or the London clockmaker William Clement, although the true inventor remains uncertain and continues to be debated by horological historians. By the late 1660s, London workshops were experimenting with new movement layouts, improved escapements and increasingly elegant longcase clocks, laying the foundations for what would become one of England’s greatest contributions to horology.
Above. Work by the famous period painter Mary Beale, argued to be scientist Robert Hooke. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. The development of the anchor escapement has traditionally been associated with either the scientist Robert Hooke or the London clockmaker William Clement, although the true inventor remains uncertain.
This anonymous 30-hour clock is therefore far more than an early domestic timepiece. It is a surviving witness to that remarkable period of innovation, preserving many of the experimental features that illustrate how English clockmakers adapted to one of the most important advances in the history of mechanical timekeeping.
Against this fascinating historical background, we can now examine the clock itself, beginning with its beautifully engraved dial.
The Dial
Above. Showing the beautifully all-over engraved 9¾-inch square brass dial of the early anonymous Key-Wound 30-hour with narrow chapter ring. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
The beautifully engraved 9¾-inch square brass dial immediately captures the eye. It is decorated throughout with an elegant tulip motif that extends across the entire dial centre and into each of the four corners. Even the original iron hands continue the floral theme, the minute hand incorporating a delicately pierced tulip upon its stem.
Tulips became one of the defining decorative themes on English lantern clock dials during the middle decades of the seventeenth century, yet they are surprisingly uncommon on square dials of longcase, hooded and table clocks. Examples displaying this distinctive all-over tulip engraving are exceedingly rare.
Brian Loomes, in his article A Tulip-Dial Clock of the Seventeenth Century, suggested that surviving examples belong to the period between about 1664 and 1680. This observation is supported by other important clocks of the period, including an early table clock by John Hilderson and an ebony spring-driven pendulum timepiece with alarm by Edward East, both of which display similarly engraved tulip dials.
Particularly attractive are the finely engraved flowers surrounding the winding holes, which were cut before the floral decoration was added, together with the small engraved tulips decorating each corner of the square date aperture. Every detail reflects the confidence and skill of the engraver.
Above. Showing a close-up of the beautiful dial centre. The flowers around the winding-holes were engraved after the winding holes were cut. Note the tulip theme hands with a flower on the minute hand. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Below. Showing a close-up of the square date calendar with small tulip flowers engraved to the square corners Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Below. Showing a close-up of one of the beautifully engraved tulip flower corners. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Below. A close-up of the superb and original iron hands with tulip flower design - which match the fabulous tulip dial. Note the carved out tulip on the minute hand. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
The Movement
Behind the dial lies an exceptionally impressive plated movement of massive construction that remains wonderfully original throughout. It retains its original anchor escapement together with four substantial ringed and knopped pillars, latched at the front in the manner of many earlier clocks.
Perhaps the most fascinating feature is its highly unusual train arrangement. Although constructed with four-wheel trains like an eight-day clock, some of the conventional pinions have been replaced by brass wheels carrying larger tooth counts, reducing the duration to approximately thirty hours.
Why the maker chose this arrangement remains something of a mystery. It may represent an experimental solution by a clockmaker already familiar with balance-wheel lantern clocks but still exploring the relatively new world of pendulum clockmaking. Whatever the explanation, the arrangement appears entirely original and provides valuable evidence of experimentation during this pioneering period.
The movement also preserves a number of early constructional features rarely encountered today. Most of the tapered iron wheel arbours are forged directly to the wheels without separate collets, while two of the larger arbours incorporate integral iron collets formed as part of the arbour itself—a feature more commonly associated with lantern clocks of the 1650s and 1660s. A single original concave brass collet completes this unusual combination, illustrating the transitional nature of clockmaking during the period.
Comparable construction can also be seen on another early key-wound 30-hour clock by Jonathan Chambers, illustrated by Darken and Hooper in English 30-Hour Clocks.
Above. Showing a front side view of the movement with the dial removed. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above Showing another front side view of the movement but from the opposite side. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above Showing the front of the movement with the dial removed. Note the front is latched and the rear of movement is pinned. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above Showing an overhead view of the massive and heavily built plated movement with lovely tapered iron wheel arbours. There are two massive tapered iron arbours that have iron collets, but these are integral and are part of the iron arbour itself - just like lantern clocks of the 1650s and 1660s. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above Showing another overhead view of the massive movement. The clock retains its original anchor escapement . Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Below. Showing the rear of the early Key-Wound movement. Note the tall plates. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
The
Architectural Case
Above. Showing the early Key-Wound clock housed in its architectural ebonised fruitwood case which has a rising hood with spoon and catch. The case is fashioned with ebonised pear wood veneers onto a pine carcass. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above. Showing a close-up of the trunk door brass escutcheon. Below. Inside the door there are blacksmith iron hinges and an iron lock. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Below. Showing one of the hand made blacksmith iron hinges and an iron lock. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Below. The oak seat board supports two rectangular movement blocks in which the clock sits.
The case stands approximately 6ft 5 inches high.
The original late-1660s case has unfortunately not survived, something that is perhaps unsurprising considering that many of the earliest longcase cases were constructed around pine carcasses, making them particularly vulnerable to woodworm and damp over the centuries.
Today the movement is housed in a magnificent architectural ebonised fruitwood case, carefully made in the style of the late 1660s. Veneered in ebonised pearwood upon a period pine carcass, it incorporates a rising hood with its traditional spoon-and-catch fastening, together with a panelled trunk door fitted with handmade blacksmith-forged hinges, an iron lock and a period brass escutcheon.
Inside, the oak seatboard supports the movement upon two rectangular movement blocks in the traditional manner. Standing approximately 6 feet 5 inches high, the case provides an elegant and entirely sympathetic home for this exceptional early movement.
Provenance
This anonymous key-wound 30-hour clock enjoys an excellent documented provenance extending back at least a century.
Until recently it remained in the private collection of John Carlton-Smith, who acquired the clock in 1960 from another respected collector and carefully preserved it for more than sixty years.
As a remarkably original survivor dating from around 1668–1670, it occupies an important place in the early history of English pendulum clockmaking. It was made little more than a decade after the introduction of the anchor escapement and stands as tangible evidence of the remarkable innovation taking place during the formative years of the longcase clock.
Its maker remains unknown. It is tempting to speculate that it may have been produced by a London lantern clockmaker adapting his established skills to the emerging fashion for pendulum clocks. Whether or not this proves to be the case, the mystery surrounding its origins only adds to the fascination of this exceptionally rare survivor.
Historical Significance
The importance of this anonymous key-wound 30-hour clock lies not simply in its great rarity, but in what it reveals about one of the most significant periods in the history of English clockmaking. Made around 1668–1670, it belongs to the pioneering years immediately following the introduction of the anchor escapement, when English makers were still refining the practical application of the long pendulum.
Unlike many later clocks that were altered or rebuilt during their working lives, this movement has survived in an exceptionally original state. Its unusual wheel train, early constructional methods and fully developed anchor escapement provide valuable evidence of the experimentation taking place during the formative years of pendulum clockmaking. Features such as the integral iron collets and substantial plated construction still reflect the traditions of the earlier lantern clock, while at the same time embracing the new technology that would ultimately transform domestic timekeeping.
The beautifully engraved tulip dial further reinforces its importance. Although tulip engraving is well known on mid-seventeenth-century lantern clocks, it is encountered only rarely on early square dials, making this clock an outstanding example of a decorative style that bridges the transition from the lantern clock to the longcase clock.
For these reasons, this remarkable anonymous survivor should be regarded as considerably more than simply an early longcase clock. It represents an important surviving link between two distinct periods of English horology, preserving both the craftsmanship and the experimental spirit of the clockmakers who laid the foundations for the longcase clocks that would dominate the following century.
Acknoweledgements
I would like to thank the following for kindly granting me permission to reproduce any previously published material for this article on early lantern clocks.
John Carlton-Smith who made it possible for me to acquire this clock which had been in his own private collection since 1960.
Brian Loomes for kindly permitting me to reproduce any relevant previously published articles written by him - which I have used for my own article above.
John Robey for generously sharing his knowledge of the movement's unusual construction.