Wall clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1946
This round electric wall clock was designed by Christopher Nicholson and manufactured by Ferranti Ltd in Great Britain in 1946. It measures 33.5 cm in diameter and 5 cm in depth, constructed from acrylic, lacquered metal, and paint. The design features a transparent outer acrylic (Perspex) ring measuring 2 to 3 mm in thickness, upon which three-dimensional acrylic numerals are mounted and edged in hand-applied red paint. Significant amounts of red paint also remain on the outer rim.
The central dial is made of metal, likely aluminium, featuring hour and minute markers that appear hand-stamped. The face includes a painted 'FERRANTI' logo, positioned upside down due to an inversion of the inner dial following damage near the top mounting hole. The clock is driven by a standard Ferranti electric movement fitted for mains power, bearing a label inscribed with 'START / HANDS / PATENTS APPLIED FOR ... MADE IN ENGLAND / FERRANTI / 200-260V / 50 CYCLES'.
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.
Historical context
Christopher Nicholson designed this prototype clock for a stand representing a television research engineer's office at the 1946 'Britain Can Make It' exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Organized by the Council of Industrial Design to boost domestic morale and promote British exports, the event featured many prototypes unavailable to consumers. Although manufactured by Ferranti Ltd, the clock never entered commercial production. It remained in Nicholson's office at 110 Old Brompton Road until his death in 1948, after which it was kept by his family until acquired by the museum from his son Tim Nicholson in 1998.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Acrylic, lacquered metal, painted
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 33.5 cm; Depth: 5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: On metal dial (nb text upside down - dial inverted at some point); painted; paint; Type: Research required; Medium: paint; Method: painted; Script: Research required; Content: 'FERRANTI'; Language: Research required; Position: On metal dial (nb text upside down - dial inverted at some point); Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Label; On the back of the electric clock mechanism; Type: Label; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 'START / HANDS / PATENTS APPLIED FOR ... MADE IN ENGLAND / FERRANTI / 200-260V / 50 CYCLES'; Language: Research required; Position: On the back of the electric clock mechanism; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Nicholson, Christopher; Ferranti Ltd
- Place recorded
- Great Britain, Great Britain
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Wall clock
- Museum object number
- W.4-1998
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.