Clocks · Clock
Clock by Richard Webster, London, c. 1860
- Maker / attribution
- Richard Webster (maker)
- Date
- c. 1860
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- England
- Place
- London
- Object type
- Clock
- Materials / technique
- oak
- Dimensions
- Height 23.5 cm
- Stock no.
- SKU 103
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Howard Walwyn (SKU 103)
- Catalogue title (original)
- RICHARD WEBSTER. A MID 19TH CENTURY BURR OAK TRAVELLING CLOCK (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London (stock number SKU 103), this is a clock by Richard Webster, made in London, England, dated c. 1860. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Clocks collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: oak. Recorded dimensions: Height 23.5 cm. The record is illustrated with 3 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Howard Walwyn
A good nineteenth century travelling clock in a burr oak five glass case with a gilt brass ornate carrying handle. The single fusée movement with chain drive and maintaining power has eight day duration.The substantial platform lever escapement has a compensated bi-metallic balance wheel. The white enamel dial with roman numerals is signed R Webster Cornhill London and this is repeated to the back plate which includes the serial number 14018. Height : 9 ¼ in (23.5 cm) Width : 6 ⅝ in (16.75 cm) Depth : 5 ¼ in (13.40 cm) * Richard Webster worked in London between 1857 and 1881. He was the descendent of William Webster who was a journeyman from Thomas Tompion and who first established the Webster business in 1711. Signed / Inscribed R. WEBSTER Cornhill LONDON HW4819
Historical context
Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.
Factory production transformed the clock into an everyday object. American makers (Seth Thomas, Ansonia, Waterbury) and German factories (Junghans, Gustav Becker, Lenzkirch) sold millions of shelf, wall and alarm clocks worldwide; France produced standardised Paris movements and carriage clocks; electric time distribution began.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology
Atlas type guide
Carriage and travel clocks
The carriage clock is a portable spring clock with a balance-wheel escapement and a brass case with glass panels and a carrying handle. Abraham-Louis Breguet made early examples around 1800, and from the 1830s Paul Garnier and other French makers industrialised production, with the small towns of Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont and the Franche-Comté supplying movements for retailers worldwide.
Typical features include a platform escapement mounted horizontally on top of the movement (usually a lever, sometimes cylinder or Garnier's chaff-cutter), striking or repeating work, and alarms. English carriage clocks, generally larger and with fusees, were made by firms such as Frodsham and Dent. Travel clocks in folding leather cases became popular in the twentieth century.
What to look for
- A platform escapement visible through the top glass.
- Case styles: corniche, gorge, anglaise, obis or engraved cases.
- Repeat buttons on top and strike/silent levers.
- Stamps of movement makers (e.g. Drocourt, Jacot, Margaine, Richard & Co.) on the backplate.
Dating clues
- Early carriage clocks with Breguet or Garnier features: c. 1800–1850.
- Mass-produced French carriage clocks: c. 1850–1914.
- Folding travel clocks and alarm travel clocks: mostly 1920–1970.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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