Japy Frères

History

Japy Frères industrialised French clock movement production, supplying round French movements to a wide network of case makers and retailers whose names, not Japy's, often appear on the dial.

Major innovations

• Mechanised production of standardised round French clock movements

Known markings

• 'Japy Frères' with exhibition medal marks
• Movement numbers stamped on the back plate

Serial numbers

Movements carry medal stamps and numbers; the retailer's name on the dial is frequently not the movement maker.

Collecting significance

Separating movement maker from case maker and retailer is the central identification task for French clocks.

Sources & references

1. Published French clock reference literature
2. Museum collection catalogues

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