Edwardian mahogany nightwatchman's tell-tale bracket clock

This Edwardian mahogany nightwatchman's tell-tale bracket clock, or noctuary, is a specialized timepiece designed to verify the patrol rounds of a night watchman.

It features a four-pillar, single chain fusee movement with an anchor escapement and a lenticular bob pendulum, including a passing strike on a bell. The 4.75-inch circular silvered brass dial displays Roman numerals and the inscription 'Parkinson & Frodsham, 5 Budge Row, London'. Uniquely, the clock includes a silvered ring engraved with reversed Roman numerals, fitted with push-pins at every half-hour. These pins are manually depressed by an external plunger on the case to record the watchman's visit.

The case is rectangular with a hinged circular bevel-glazed cast brass bezel, floral scroll carving at the base, and side viewing windows. It stands on squab feet and measures 36cm high overall. Such clocks were used in pairs at opposite ends of a patrol route to create a permanent time-stamped record of a watchman's progress during his shift.