Clocks · Regulator
Regulator by J.g.w. Meyer, In Wien, c. 1850
- Maker / attribution
- J.g.w. Meyer (maker)
- Date
- c. 1850
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- Austria
- Place
- In Wien
- Object type
- Regulator
- Dimensions
- Height 59 cm
- Stock no.
- SKU 55
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Howard Walwyn (SKU 55)
- Catalogue title (original)
- J.G.W. MEYER. A RARE SMALL SIZED VIENNESE DACHLUHR REGULATOR. (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London (stock number SKU 55), this is a regulator by J.g.w. Meyer, made in In Wien, Austria, dated c. 1850. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Clocks collection. Recorded dimensions: Height 59 cm. The record is illustrated with 2 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 fine Viennese Dachluhr regulator in a figured mahogany case of rare small size. The glazed case of classic architectural style is veneered in well figured mahogany and line inlaid throughout with a lighter wood (sycamore or holly). The original adjustable locating spikes are fitted to the back of the base above where it terminates in an elegant taper. The enamel dial is fully signed with a fine engine turned gilt bezel and blued steel pierced hands. The weight driven movement has a four spoke pulley wheel, brass covered weight and dead beat escapement with ebonised wooden pendulum rod and brass bob. Inside at the base of the trunk is a silvered brass rating scale plaque. Date: circa 1850 Height: 23 in (59 cm) *Wilhelm Meyer is recorded in ‘Viennese Timepieces’ by Frederick Kaltenböck as working in Vienna as a clockmaker in the late 1840’s. Signed / Inscribed J.G.W. Meyer IN WIEN
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
Regulators, wall and Vienna clocks
A regulator is a precision pendulum clock used as a time standard in observatories, workshops and railway offices. Typical features are a deadbeat or Graham escapement, a temperature-compensated pendulum (mercury jar, gridiron or later invar), maintaining power and a regulator dial that separates hours, minutes and seconds. George Graham's deadbeat escapement (c. 1715) and his mercury pendulum, together with Harrison's gridiron, set the pattern for two centuries.
Wall clocks span a much wider range: the elegant Viennese Laterndluhr and Dachluhr of the Biedermeier period, the Dutch stoelklok and staartklok, English 'dial' clocks used in schools, offices and railway stations, and mass-produced spring and weight wall clocks from Germany (Gustav Becker, Junghans, Kienzle) and America.
What to look for
- Deadbeat escapement and compensated pendulum (gridiron rods, mercury jar or wood rod).
- A regulator dial with a large central minute hand and separate hour and seconds dials.
- Vienna regulators: glazed cases, slender pendulum, small weights, enamel two-piece dials.
- German factory trademarks stamped on the backplate (e.g. Gustav Becker anchor and crown, Junghans star).
Dating clues
- Graham-type deadbeat regulators: from c. 1720.
- Viennese Laterndluhr: c. 1800–1850.
- German factory 'Vienna-style' regulators: c. 1870–1930; Gustav Becker serial numbers allow close dating.
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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