How do I wind a brass repeating carriage clock?

Wind the mainsprings using a matching key inserted into the arbours on the backplate. Turn carefully until resistance is felt, avoiding over-winding. Ensure you handle the movement gently and avoid touching the delicate escapement parts visible through the glass panels.

What does the repeating button do?

Pressing the plunger on top of the case activates a series of hammers and gongs inside. This causes the clock to chime the last elapsed hour and quarter. This function was originally designed to tell the time in the dark during stagecoach or rail travel.

How do I date these clocks?

Examine the style of the brass case, the shape of the dial, and any signatures or maker marks stamped on the movement backplate. Victorian and late nineteenth-century French examples often display registration marks or serial numbers. Stylistic shifts from plain brass frames to engraved gorge cases help narrow down the decade of production between eighteen hundred and nineteen hundred.

Where were these clocks made?

The vast majority of these pieces originated in French workshops, particularly in Paris, during the nineteenth century. Makers exported them widely for the British market. Retailers such as E. White in London often retailed these French movements, sometimes adding their own signatures to the dials.