This longcase clock was made by Joseph Knibb, London c.1640-1711. Knibb first set up business in Oxford but moved to London around 1670 where his address was Sergents Inn, Fleet Street. He became a celebrated horologist although had a retiring personality.

Knibb is credited with the introduction of Roman striking into England and may have been the inventor of the anchor (recoil) escapement. A contemporary letter refers to him as a ‘pendulum’ maker.

The movement of this clock has an anchor (recoil) escapement with curiously shaped escape wheel teeth, which are similar to ordinary gear teeth and may have been considered more robust than the conventional type. The movement also has latched plates and count wheel striking.

The ebony veneered and paneled case has a rising architectural hood which may have been influenced by the work of Sir Christopher Wren. The brass dial has silvered chapter, date and seconds rings.

The longcase clock developed from the lantern clock and was a necessary protection for the long seconds pendulum. Like other early longcases, this one is comparatively short to take account of the lower ceiling heights of the time.

Accession No. 1992.1.8

A month duration longcase clock in marquetry case by Richard Lyons, London, c.1680.

Longcase clock by Richard Lyons, c.1635-c.1690. Lyons was apprenticed to William Almond in 1649 and freed in 1656. In 1662 he was working in Blackfriars and in 1683 he became Master of the Clockmakers Company.

With the invention of the recoil escapement and seconds beating pendulum, the long duration clock became possible. An additional pair of gear wheels is added to both trains to allow for month duration and winding is consequently anti-clockwise. On the striking side the countwheel is mounted onto the backplate of the movement.

The dial, with matted centre has silvered chapter, seconds and date rings and cherub head spandrels. The case, with rising hood, uses many varieties of wood to make up the marquetry decoration in the guise of bowls of flowers. The green ‘leaves’ are made of dyed bone. The lenticle glass through which the pendulum bob can be seen is a common feature at this date

These clocks were very expensive when first made and were very much brighter in colour. The hood has no door so to wind the movement or alter the hands requires the lifting of the hood.

Accession No. 1992.1.6

An 8 day longcase clock in figured walnut case, c.1680. By William Clement, London.

Longcase clock by William Clement, c.1643-1710. One of the greatest clockmakers of his time, Clement is believed by many to be the inventor of the recoil escapement but this is not proven (although he started life as an anchor-smith). He became Master of the Clockmakers Company in 1690 but fell on hard times in later life, perhaps due to ill health, and he received a number of regular charities from the Company.

The recoil escapement, for which Clement may have been responsible, was invented c.1665. Compared with the verge and bob pendulum, the anchor reduced the swing of a long pendulum to only 5 degrees, thus greatly improving timekeeping as well as making long duration clocks possible (i.e., 8 days or more). The ‘Royal’ pendulums which were used with this escapement needed protection and so the longcase clock was born.

Early longcase clocks, before marquetry cases became popular, were usually ebonised or walnut veneered. The cresting on the hood was also popular at this time. The 9” dial has a narrow chapter ring with separate seconds and date rings.

Like other early longcase clocks, this one is comparatively short (6’2”). The lower room heights of the time made this necessary and it was only after the Great Fire of London that houses with taller rooms were constructed in greater numbers. It took clockmakers until the early years of the 18th century to design clocks of more appropriate height.

Accession No. 1992.1.9

An 8 day quarter chiming clock by Barraud, London c.1790.

Made by Francis Barraud of Fleet Street, London, 1759-94. A family of horologists of Huguenot origin, the Barrauds had premises at 85/86 Cornhill, London. They were later to become makers of fine marine and pocket chronometers and in a later partnership were known as Barraud and Lund.

The three train fusee movement has a verge escapement with bob pendulum and false pendulum on the dial. The two striking trains are rack controlled and there are eight quarter bells.

The backplate of the movement is finely engraved. The arched brass dial has applied mask and foliate spandrels, silvered chapter ring, date aperture, pendulum lunette and silvered plaque. The mahogany veneered case with broken archtop has brass fish scale side frets backed with silk.

Although by this date, table clocks were no longer considered portable items, the two side carrying handles remain. This is a later example of a clock with verge escapement. The recoil had almost completely superseded it but it remained popular with some makers.

Accession No. 1992.1.42

An English fusee spring table clock by Robert Allam, London.

Made by Robert Allam of London. Allam was apprenticed in 1730, became free of the Clockmakers Company in 1743 and died in c.1765. His address was ‘Next St Dunstan’s Church, Fleet Street’.

The standard double fusee movement with verge escapement has two additional mechanisms with their own dials in the arch. The left hand dial has a ‘rise and fall’ regulation device behind. By turning the hand the pendulum suspension is raised or lowered through a slot in the pendulum clock, adjusting the timekeeping. The right hand dial is a strike/silent mechanism.

The ebonised case has an inverted bell top, brass carrying handle and four pineapple finials. The break arch dial has two subsiduary dials and the name plate in the arch. The backplate is profusely engraved.

The carrying handle on the top of the case was a practical rather than decorative device for clocks with verge escapement and pendulum. The wide swing of the pendulum meant that it tended to keep going while being carried from room to room. The strike/silent mechanism was a useful feature enabling the clock to be used in a bedroom at night.

Accession No. 1992.1.44