Clock dial marked 'Potter, Railway Time'
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1840-1880
This object is a clock dial featuring the inscription 'Potter, Railway Time'. Dated to 1840-1880, the dial is of British origin. It is housed in a circular wooden surround and features a metal face with Roman numerals and two hands.
The dial exhibits significant signs of wear and surface degradation. It is a material reference to the shift toward synchronized timekeeping necessitated by the expansion of railway transportation in 19th-century Britain, when disparate local times were gradually replaced by 'Railway Time' or Greenwich Mean Time to manage complex train schedules and reduce the risk of accidents. The dial was donated to the collection by Callinghams Limited.
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
- 1840-1880
- Type
- Wall clock dial
- Donor
- Callinghams Limited
- Maker
- Unknown maker
- Place
- United Kingdom
- Inscription
- Potter, Railway Time
- Measurements
- 255 mm x 454 mm 2.56 kg
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Unknown maker
Design
- Visible features
- • Significant loss of black paint and finish on the dial face • Features two iron-style hands and Roman numeral hour markers • Mounted in a circular wooden frame with brass bezel • The name 'Potter' and 'Railway Time' are etched onto the dial center
- Context and Significance
- The dial acts as a physical artifact relating to the introduction of standard time in Britain. During the mid-19th century, the expansion of railway networks created a requirement for consistent timekeeping to ensure safe operations across different regions, which previously operated on local sun-based times. Railway operators adopted 'Railway Time' or Greenwich Mean Time as a standard practice.
- Construction and Appearance
- The object comprises a circular dial plate, which is currently in a deteriorated condition. The face displays Roman numerals marking the hours, with a significant portion of the original black paint finish having worn away, exposing the base metal. The center of the dial bears the text 'POTTER' above the phrase 'RAILWAY TIME.' Two hands are attached at the center. The surrounding assembly consists of a circular wooden frame secured by a brass bezel. The piece measures 255 mm by 454 mm and has a weight of 2.56 kg.
- Provenance and Identification
- The clock dial was donated to the collection by Callinghams Limited. The cataloguing records indicate that the maker remains unknown, despite the appearance of the name 'Potter' on the dial face. The date for the object is assigned to the period 1840-1880, coinciding with the era of railway expansion and the adoption of standard time in Britain.
Identification
- Accession number
- 1978-208
- 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: Maker is stated as 'Unknown maker' despite the name 'Potter' on the dial
- Research required: Dating is broad (1840-1880) and reflective of a range rather than specific manufacture