How do I wind a carriage clock?

Use the matching key on the winding squares located on the backplate of the movement. Turn gently until resistance is felt. Avoid over-winding to protect the mainspring from snapping.

What is a repeating carriage clock?

A repeater strikes the last hour and quarter-hour when a button or pendant on the case is depressed. This allowed the time to be checked in darkness. Mechanisms of this type require careful handling during operation.

Are travel cases original to the clocks?

Many nineteenth-century pieces retain their fitted leather or morocco-covered outer boxes lined with velvet or silk. These protected the gilt brass frames during transit. Survival of the original box adds significantly to the historical completeness of the piece.

What is a four-glass clock?

A mantel clock housed within a brass frame holding four glass panels that expose the entire mechanism and pendulum. They became popular in France during the nineteenth century. Their open construction allows light to pass through the clock from multiple angles.