Mechanical Brass Carriage Clock

Hey folks,

This isn't actually an antique, but I didn't know where else to go to find information on it.

What we have here is a brass and glass-panel carriage-clock which I bought today. Made in England by Taylor & Bligh. 11 jewel handwound mechanical movement. In lovely working condition.

I was told (and brief research confirms) that it was made in the 1980s. But that's ALL I've been able to find out about it.

Does anybody know anything about the company or these clocks? I haven't been able to discover a thing.

 

Oh my, what a pretty little clock. The icing on (my piece of) the cake would be that it is handwound/mechanical.

 

I absolutely love it. The only thing IS, I don't know anything about it!! Gah!!

 

For a date you'd need to post a picture of the escapement (through the glass window on top) and the back-plate (through the back door).

Despite the retailer's name it is probably French made.

 

Hi AF, here are the pictures:





I apologise for the blurriness. It was extremely hard photographing the back due to the reflection of the brass. The pertinent information is:

"Made in England"
"11 Jewels"

 

I can see sod all in the last picture, as it is way out of focus and opening the door would have been a good idea. The auto focus has picked on the top edge of the door to focus on.

However , if it mentions a jewel count, it is certainly mid to later 20th C, as the type of platform escapement confirms.

These timepieces (a clock is defined as a timekeeper that strikes the hours) have been made in France for about the last 150 years to the same design with trivial improvements to the escapement.

If it actually says 'Made in England' it was probably assembled French parts. Does it actually say that, or are you going by the retailer's name?

 

I'm aware the clock is not an antique, I just wanted to know a bit more about it. This seemed the most likely place to come for such info.

It actually says "Made in England". Here's a clearer picture of the movement's back plate:



The full text on the clock reads:

"Taylor & Bligh"
"ENGLAND"

(Front)

"Made in England"
"11 Jewels"

(Back).

 

What I find surprising is the lack of information available on this company apart from the Redditch location and statutory returns which indicate the company has been in existence for 18 years and is a manufacturer of clocks and watches. I'm not sure of the rules for stating Made in England but this may be an assembler of bought in imported parts. I have a quartz carriage clock that T&B made for P&O cruises (the quartz movement was made in Germany)

 

If that's the case, then it's made in Germany, really? All I'm trying to do is find out about the company, where the clock came from, and whether it's a quality timepiece or not. It's been an ambition of mine to own one of these for years and I hope I at least got a decent one here.

Also, the door on the back swings open and shut freely. There's nothing to keep it closed. Is that normal? Looking online suggests that it was, although I'm not sure. Some clocks seem to have doors that stay shut, others swing free like this. It doesn't look as if there's anything missing, so I assume it's by design, that this happens.

 

Too simplistic. If T & B are designing clocks, sourcing parts from Germany and elsewhere, and assembling them in the UK then the clocks are "Made in England". If they are simply importing assembled clocks then they are not.

 

So basically, assembled in England from imported parts made elsewhere then? OK.

I wish I could find out more about the assembler or whatever. There's absolutely nothing online except for the fact that they were made in the 1980s and came with a green protective case.

 

This type of clock is one of very few decent quality mechanical clocks still made.

They get very little attention because most clock collectors can buy 19th C examples for a lot less than a new modern example, secondhand modern examples are relatively cheap, though.

You can find examples of 20th C carriage clocks under the trade names of Duverdray and Bloquel, L'Epee and Bayard, also Matthew Norman.

THe back doors should be a snug fit but do not have catches. They should not swing open if the clock is held back down, but should pull open easily.

 

Hi AF,

Thanks for the reply. I've seen several carriage clocks new and antique which are mechanical, but I was suspicious because, as you say - most mechanical clocks made these days aren't of any sort of quality.

I can understand why a modern one wouldn't get attention from collectors, but then I'm not a collector, I'm a user. I've wanted one for years to keep as a timepiece, not necessarily to start a collection (I couldn't afford it, anyway!!)

Thanks for the information about the back door, that seems to make sense. My door isn't that snug though - in fact it swings freely. I stuck a TEENY little bit of felt padding in the top corner of the door. Easily removed if necessary, but it provides enough friction to hold the door shut without damaging anything.

If you don't mind my asking, what makes you say that this is one of the few quality mechanicals still made?

Is it the brand/retailer? The fact that it's a carriage clock? Jeweled movement? Just curious to know more.

I know it may not mean much, but while researching, I noticed that a number of antique clocks (including those retailed by Tiffany & Co) were all 11 jewels or higher (usually 11-15, from what I've seen so far). That led me to believe that this was of better quality; after all, if it's good enough for Tiffany...

 

As a type, carriage clocks made in the traditional way are about the only decent mechanical clocks made now because there is still a market for the design.

Most clocks have no jewelling. The only reason carriage clocks have them is because the platform escapement is constructed like a watch escapement as a separate part. The jewelling follows typical watch layout, four on the balance staff, including two capstones, impulse jewel, two jewels for pallets on the lever, 2 jewels for the lever pivots and two for the escape wheel pivots.

 

I see. Okay that makes sense. And you're right, most clocks I've seen have no jewels at all (at most maybe 2-3. That's the max I've ever seen).

So basically you're saying that carriage clocks as a type of clock are the only decent mechanicals still made, because they *have* to be decently made to be worthwhile manufacturing, and the design forces them to be made a certain way to a certain standard?

 

Here are some pictures of my carriage clock family, Mr.,Mrs., and the kids.

From left to right. Late 19th C gong strike, mid 19th. C. one piece case bell strike, Miniature with ceramic panels and sub-miniature in 'gunmetal' case.

 

I love the blue enamel one: the flowers look like little clock cogs. Very pleasing.

 

Ooh my! I LOVE the two big ones!! Thank you for sharing, AF!