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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock type · Public & tower

Turret Clock Movements

Partially verified

Large iron or brass clock movements driving exterior dials and striking bells in towers.

Movement & mechanism

  • Weight-driven trains with very long drops
  • Gravity or pinwheel escapements in later precision examples
  • Maintaining power and remontoire arrangements in high-grade work

Identification

  • Iron or brass frames of architectural scale
  • Long weight drops within the tower
  • Original hand-forged ironwork distinguishes early movements from Victorian replacements

Terminology

  • Flatbed frame
  • Birdcage frame
  • Gravity escapement

Known variations

  • Birdcage, flatbed and cast-iron frame types

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.

Diagram

escape wheelpallets and leveroscillator
Schematic: escapement arrangement. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

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.