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31457C.W
JOHN BENSON, 25 OLD BOND STREET, LONDON. A STRIKING SHIPS CLOCK WHICH SOUNDS THE WATCHES ON A BELL. CIRCA 1880.

An unusual and robust English bulkhead clock. The eight day movement of fine quality with massive shaped plates, strikes ships watches on a bell and has a platform escapement and all the wheelwork is of the finest quality.

The 8" silvered brass dial, signed for the makers, has a seconds ring between the centre and 12 o=clock and advance and retard lever above 12 o’clock.. The dial is surrounded by a cast brass bezel with thick bevelled glass.

The brass drum shaped case is attached to the wall via three lugs. The whole clock weighs some 15lbs and is of massive construction. The movement is one of the nicest that we have seen on this type of clock.

Ships bell striking is unusual and necessitates a complex movement and a large number of hammer blows during the week. This clock strikes the slightly simpler version that was often used for domestic clocks, where at 6.30 p.m.a true ships clock will strike one bell the domestic ships clock would strike five bells, i.e. the ships clock runs on a 24 hour cycle whereas the domestic variety runs on a 12 hour cycle.

The clock will come complete with a copy of the various watches and how the clock strikes.

Diameter: 9.5" (24)

Price band: B

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James William Benson are recorded as being in business from 1849 to 1973. They were at various times at Cornhill, Ludgate Hill, Old Bond Street and had a steam factory at 38 Bell Sauvage Yard. Further details can be found in "Victorian Clocks" by Richard Good, published by the British Museum Press.