Victorian Railways No.1 Wall Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1858
This wall clock, known as the Victorian Railways No.1 or 'Main Line Starter Clock', is constructed with a cedar drop dial case featuring a glazed, 914 mm diameter face and a cast-iron bezel.
It was manufactured by T. Gaunt & Co. in Melbourne, Victoria, and was installed at the former Spencer Railway Station in 1858, where it served until 1937. The timepiece is weight-driven and features a dead-beat escapement. In 1871, it was integrated with the Melbourne Observatory's precision regulator clock via a telegraph line to ensure synchronized time for railway operations. To facilitate this control, the pendulum bob was fitted with an electromagnet.
Following its removal from the station in 1960 and transfer to the museum in 1964, a discrete electrical movement was added in 2016 to allow operation without manual winding. The case front is inscribed 'V.R. No.1'.
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
- Wall clock
- Maker
- T. Gaunt and Co.
- Escapement
- Dead-beat
- Acquisition
- Donation from Victorian Railways in 1964
- Dial Diameter
- 914 mm
- Inscribed Text
- V.R. No.1
- Place recorded
- Australia
- Maker / attribution
- T. Gaunt and Co.
- Registration Number
- ST 38326
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is housed in a substantial cedar drop-dial case, measuring approximately 1219 mm in external diameter. The face is glazed, with a diameter of 914 mm, and is protected by a cast-iron bezel that is hinged at the top. The case features a signature inscription on the front located below the dial, identified as 'V.R. No.1'. The overall physical configuration is noted for its size, with the object dimensions recorded at 1190 mm in width, 250 mm in depth, and 1820 mm in height. The estimated total weight of the clock is 150 kg.
- Visible features
- • Cedar timber drop-dial case construction • Cast-iron bezel hinged at the top • Electromagnetic component visible on the pendulum bob • Inscription 'V.R. No.1' on the front case
- History and Provenance
- Records indicate the clock was associated with the Victorian Railway Department and was installed at the former Spencer Railway Station in 1858. It remained in service at the stationmaster's office for 79 years until 1937. The clock was utilized as the main line starter, regulating the departure times of country trains. In 1871, the clock was connected by telegraph to the Melbourne Observatory's precision regulator to maintain time accuracy. Following the rebuilding of Spencer Street Station in 1960, the clock was moved to the railways clock shop before being donated to the museum in 1964.
- Movement and Modifications
- Originally a weight-driven instrument equipped with a dead-beat escapement, the movement was adapted for external synchronization. A critical modification involved installing an electromagnet within the pendulum bob to permit electrical control from the Melbourne Observatory. Electrical terminals are located on the top of the clock case for this purpose. In 2016, the clock underwent a modern modification involving the addition of a discrete electrical movement. This alteration was performed to allow the timepiece to remain in operation without the necessity of manual winding.
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: Installation date is debated, with source citing 1858 or 1859, while suggesting it might date to 1871
- Research required: Weight is stated as approximate
- Research required: 2016 internal movement modification status