An attractive oak-cased dial clock having a painted circular dial signed “Thwaites & Reed / Clerkenwell.” 222113.

The London clockmaking firm of Thwaites & Reed has a long history dating back to the first half of the 1700s. Aynsworth Twaites is said to have begun in the clock business about 1735 in the Clerkenwell section of London. In the early years, he built a reputation for producing turret and domestic clocks of all varieties. He also concentrated on the emerging Turkish market. Aynsworth was succeeded by John Twaites. He became the head of the Company in 1780 and later was a master in the Clockmaker Company. In 1816 he partnered with George Jeremiah Reed, and the name became Twaites & Reed. This firm produced many world-famous clocks, including the Fortnum and Mason automaton, the Financial Times Astronomical clocks, and a number of replica clocks like the Congreve Rolling Ball Clock and the Inclined Plane, Rack, Rising Works Drum Clocks. There were also responsible for the rebuilding of Big Ben after a structural failure in 1977 and its maintenance. 

This is a very practical “Dial clock” or “Pub Clock.” This form is extremely popular in the United Kingdom. Hugh numbers made over a period of 160 years. The latter production was used extensively in public buildings that included railroad stations, offices, schools, and pubs. We are lucky to know the history of this example. It was used in the London school system. Its history is recorded on paper labels that are pasted inside the case. This clock was used in the “Girls School / Room, 10 Lab” in the city of London. 

The case is constructed of oak. The cast brass bezel is fitted with beveled-edged glass and opens to access the flat-painted iron dial. This dial measures approximately 11 inches in diameter across the time ring. This is considered a standard size. The hours are displayed in bold Roman-style figures. The minute divisions are boxed, and triangles are used as the five-minute markers. The steel hands display the time. The movement is of excellent quality. It is heavily constructed in brass. The plates are rectangular shaped and are supported by four-shouldered brass pillars that are pinned on the front plate side. It is a spring-driven fusee design and retains its original chain drive. This movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. The pendulum hangs from the back of the movement, and the bob is brass faced.

The clock case measures only 14 inches in diameter and is 6.5 inches deep. An access door is located on the right side of the case. A second access door is located at the bottom of the case and locks closed.

Inventory number 222113.