Turret Clock by James Murray
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1854
This turret clock, assigned registration number ST 19014, was made by James Murray in 1854. The object was installed at the National Model & Training School, located at the corner of Spring and Albert Streets, Melbourne, Victoria.
The clock construction includes a weight-driven movement, an anchor escapement, and a clock face mounted on a metal stand. The movement is housed in a wooden box, and the dial bears the inscription: 'James Murray, G. Bourke St, Melbourne'. The object was donated to the collection by Education Victoria on January 25, 1933.
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
- Type
- Turret & tower clock
- Maker
- James Murray
- Escapement
- Anchor escapement
- Place recorded
- Australia
- Acquisition date
- 25 Jan 1933
- Dial inscription
- James Murray, G. Bourke St, Melbourne
- Original location
- National Model & Training School, Melbourne
- Maker / attribution
- James Murray
- Registration number
- ST 19014
- Year of manufacture
- 1854
Design
- Visible features
- • Weight-driven movement housed in a wooden crate • Dial features applied Roman numerals • Movement frame is painted green • Clock face supported by a metal framework
- Dial and Mounting
- The clock features a circular dial, which displays Roman numerals. The dial is held in place by an open-frame metal stand, which provides the necessary structural support for the face in an upright, visible position. The dial bears a specific maker's mark identifying the origin of the instrument. The inscription located on the dial reads 'James Murray, G. Bourke St, Melbourne', linking the clock to the Melbourne business premises of James Murray & Co.
- Movement and Mechanism
- The turret clock features a weight-driven movement. The gear train and components are mounted within a distinctively green-painted frame, which is stored in a wooden box. The mechanism utilizes an anchor escapement to regulate the timekeeping of the clock. In addition to the primary movement assembly, the object includes physical components such as drive weights and a secondary collection of parts stored within a box. These components constitute the mechanical core of the installation, designed for public timekeeping at the school site.
- Provenance and History
- The clock was manufactured in 1854 for the National Model & Training School in East Melbourne. This institution was established in the same year on the corner of Spring and Albert Streets. It later functioned as Victoria's first secondary school from 1905 before relocating to South Yarra. Following the closure and demolition of the original school building in 1933, the clock was preserved. It entered the collection via a donation from Education Victoria on January 25, 1933.
Identification
- 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: The exact extent of components included in the 'box of parts' is not detailed.
- Research required: The current state of mechanical functionality is not described.