Clocks · Wall clock
Wall clock by Pius Dreschler, Hull, c. 1840
- Maker / attribution
- Pius Dreschler (maker)
- Date
- c. 1840
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- England
- Place
- Hull
- Object type
- Wall clock
- Materials / technique
- mahogany
- Dimensions
- Height 12 in (30 cm)
- Stock no.
- Product 48
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, P A Oxley (product 48)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Rare Wall Clock by Pius Dreschler of Hull (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by P A Oxley (dealer), Wiltshire (stock number Product 48), this is a wall clock by Pius Dreschler, made in Hull, England, dated c. 1840. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Clocks collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: mahogany. Recorded dimensions: Height 12 in (30 cm). The record is illustrated with 6 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 — P A Oxley
An exquisite and rare wall clock of diminutive size by this well known and prolific Clockmaking family. The 8 day duration single fusee movement has four plate pillars and an anchor escapement. The rare 10" diameter convex white dial has its original ground, Roman numerals, blued steel hands and is signed by the maker Pius Dreschler of Hull. The mahogany case has a well figured veneered base which features a lockable access door for regulation and pendulum hanging. Also with an access door to the side. The cast brass and lockable bezel is fitted with a convex glass. Note: The Dreschler family were from the Black Forest area of Germany and appear to have moved to the Hull area during the first quarter of the 19th century. There are several families by this name listed including a John Dreschler who appears to be the Uncle of Pius. This particular maker worked at 21 Mytongate Street from 1838-1867. They are known to have made and supplied high quality clocks and barometers. A large and superb quality clock/barometer is known by this maker. Maker Pius Dreschler of Hull
Historical context
Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.
The age of the deadbeat escapement, compensated pendulums and observatory regulators. Domestic clocks spread through the middle classes: English longcase and bracket clocks, French gilt-bronze mantel clocks, Viennese Biedermeier wall clocks, Black Forest painted-shield clocks, and the first American shelf clocks.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Early Modern 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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