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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock type · Portable

Carriage Clocks

Partially verified

Small portable clocks in glazed brass cases with a handle, developed in France for travel.

Movement & mechanism

  • Spring-driven movements with platform lever escapements
  • Striking, repeating and alarm work in better examples
  • Cases with bevelled glass panels on all sides

Identification

  • Platform escapement visible through a top glass
  • Case style and glass bevels indicate quality
  • Original travelling case and key add considerably to interest

Terminology

  • Platform escapement
  • Repeat button
  • Oval and gorge cases

Known variations

  • Timepiece, striking, repeating and grande sonnerie versions

Collecting notes

Originality decides value and interest: check that movement, dial and case belong together, and prefer honest wear over refinishing. Movement work belongs with a clockmaker; cleaning a dial or case yourself commonly destroys the evidence that dates the clock.

Related photographs

Bracket clock movement
Bracket clock movement — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain. Wikimedia Commons file page
Clocks; a bracket clock formerly in the possession of the Ea Wellcome V0023857
Clocks; a bracket clock formerly in the possession of the Ea Wellcome V0023857 — Unattributed Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Bracket Clock MET 241216
Bracket Clock MET 241216 — Creator:Stephen Van Wyck, CC0. Wikimedia Commons file page

No confidently matched photograph of this subject has been found yet. These photographs show a closely related record, and are not examples of the type described on this page.

Sources & references

  1. Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers
  2. Loomes, B., reference works on British clockmakers (edition-dependent)
  3. Museum catalogue descriptions of comparable examples

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.