Carriage
clocks have a charm and a fascination all of their own. Not only are
they one of the most practical of time pieces but are also eminently
collectable. The name ‘carriage’ clock is a corruption from
the French ‘pendule de carriage’, - a portable timekeeper.
Coaches at that time would run on metal-rimmed wheels, with little
protection from roads which were no more than dirt tracks. Although
carriage clocks would work while in motion, in practical terms getting
them out from ones luggage meant they would be more generally be put
into use once the traveller had come to a halt.
In the early days of their use, there was no such thing as standard
time. Eventually an Act of Parliament was passed stating that all
coaching inns and public buildings should have a clock which could
keep accurate local time. This clock would then be used to set each
traveller’s own time-piece.
Some of the more expensive ‘repeater’ clocks would have
buttons on the top which, when pressed, would ring the previous hour,
some even to the nearest minute.
This gave an idea how much time one had before having to get up to
catch the morning coach or have breakfast. Remember that, without
electric light, all would be in total darkness. To get a light you
would first have to find a tinder box to make a flame, then light
the candle - to read the clock (If you hadn’t set yourself alight
by then!)
In the heyday of the carriage clock many of the wealthier members
of society would ‘up sticks’ and move from their country
estate to their town house or quit their town house to take the waters,
say, in Bath or Buxton, quite often taking with them their whole household.
At this time too, army officers would travel the world, taking chest-fuls
of everything a gentleman might need, including of course their carriage
clock.
The majority of 18th Century carriage clocks would have their own
leather carrying case. Many English clocks were made of brass, quite
often gilded, with a fold-down handle at the top which would fit neatly
into the case to be carried in one’s luggage.
At Albion Clocks, 4 Grove End, there is usually a good selection starting
at £280 to £1450 all fully overhauled and guaranteed,
a lovely present for a wedding or parents’ anniversary if a little
bit of olde world quality and charm is called for.
