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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock type · Specialist

Organ Clocks

Partially verified

Clocks incorporating a small pipe organ that plays at set times.

Movement & mechanism

  • Bellows supply wind to a set of small pipes
  • A pinned barrel opens pallets admitting air to each pipe
  • A weight or spring train powers the bellows and barrel

Identification

  • Organ pipes within or beneath the case
  • Bellows and a pinned barrel
  • Leather bellows commonly perished and re-covered

Terminology

  • Flötenuhr
  • Pinned barrel
  • Pallet

Known variations

  • Cabinet and longcase forms

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

Long Case Musical Clock by Otto van Meurs, c. 1750-1775 - Fogg Art Museum - DSC02345
Long Case Musical Clock by Otto van Meurs, c. 1750-1775 - Fogg Art Museum - DSC02345 — Daderot, 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.