A. Woodroffe musical eight-bell triple fusee bracket clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1880–1890
This musical triple fusee bracket clock, identified as an English production from the late Victorian period, is signed by A. Woodroffe of Stockton-on-Tees. The movement is an 8-day, three-train mechanical system, with the musical train utilizing a pinned brass cylinder to operate an assembly of 8 bells for quarter-chimes.
The hours are struck on a separate bell or coiled gong. Three subsidiary dials located in the arch provide controls for chime selection, chime/silent function, and pendulum regulation. The cabinet is constructed from ebonised wood and is accented with gilded brass ormolu fittings, including classical side pillars, corner appliqués, and flame finials on a basket-style top. Acoustic side panels feature pierced fretwork lined with silk to facilitate sound transmission.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1880–1890
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Bells
- 8
- Maker
- A. Woodroffe
- Dimensions
- 39 x 69 x 69 cm
- Movement Type
- 8-Day, Triple Fusee
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- A. Woodroffe
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is housed in an ebonised wooden cabinet designed with a basket-style top, adorned with gilded brass fittings, including classical pillars at the sides, corner appliqués, and flame-shaped finials. The side panels feature pierced ormolu fretwork, which is lined with silk to protect the movement while allowing for sound projection. The dial architecture includes a silvered brass chapter ring marked with black Roman numerals. The surrounding faceplate is crafted from embossed ormolu. The upper arch contains three subsidiary dials, providing functions for chime and silent operation, tune selection, and a rise-and-fall regulation lever for the pendulum.
- Visible features
- • Silvered brass chapter ring with black Roman numerals • Triple subsidiary dials for chime selection, chime/silent, and regulation • Pierced brass ormolu acoustic side frets
- Movement and Mechanism
- The clock operates on an 8-day, three-train mechanical movement powered by triple fusees. This mechanism uses chain or gut-line fusee cones to maintain constant force to the gear trains. The musical train utilizes a pinned brass cylinder to trigger the 8 tuned bells for quarter-chime sequences. Standard hour striking is performed on a separate deep-toned bell or coiled steel gong. The user controls the chime features through the subsidiary dials, which allow for switching between specific sequences such as Westminster or Whittington/Cambridge, or silencing the bells entirely.
- History and Attribution
- The retailer, A. Woodroffe, operated at 58 High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, from 1879 into the 20th century. The company, which expanded to become Woodroffe & Son, functioned as horologists and jewellers. It is reported that retailers of this era frequently commissioned movements from specialized makers in London or the Black Forest before signing the dials with their own house name.
Identification
- SKU
- JN150
- Reference
- JN150
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Movement origin not specified, despite attribution to London or Black Forest makers
- Research required: Exact composition of the hardwood base not verified