Regulator grandmother clock by Gillett & Johnston, c. 1920

Dealer description — P A Oxley

A very high quality and rare weight driven English grandmother clock by these well known makers. The two train 8 day duration weight driven movement strikes the quarters and hours on five rods with the tune of Westminster on the quarters. The substantial regulator movement has deadbeat escapement, maintaining power, thick brass plates and large plate pillars. There is a very small brass weight for the going train and a very large brass weight for the striking train. The pendulum is hung from the back cock using a separate suspension which is hooked onto the cast iron rod. The lozenge shaped pendulum bob is typical of Gillett & Johnston. The engraved silvered brass square dial has Roman hours, elaborate blued steel hands and a strike/silent facility above the number XII. The retailers name of H. Pearce & Sons, Huddersfield is displayed to the centre of the dial. The small solid mahogany case is of excellent proportions with a lockable full length trunk door, brass paterea and canted corners to the side. The base has a single plinth and a plain panel. The hood also has canted corners, a flat top and inspection windows to each side. A rare example. Note: The movement is stamped with Patent No: 25242/20. This was applied for in 1920. The ingenious mechanism used allows just two weights to be used rather than three for the quarter striking feature. Gillett & Johnston are still trading in Croydon. They specialised in Turret clocks and public clocks. They also supplied bells from their own Foundry. We have sold two similar clocks by these makers in the past. In over 40 years of dealing with antique clocks we have only dealt with a very small number of these high quality weight driven English Grandmother clocks. Maker Gillett & Johnston