English dial clocks, a book review

Antique Collectors' Club
Suffolk, England.

255 pages, 42 color and 253 black and white illustrations, 59.50

This hand some volume is the second edition of a book by Ronald E Rose that was originally published in 1978. In this revised version, two new chapters and additional illustrations have expanded the subject of English dial clocks and brought it up to date, making it a valuable addition to the library of any serious clock collector or dealer.

The original dial clock, a simple round-faced, spring-driven example usually painted black, appeared in the 1720s. Then came the notorious tavern clock, sometimes referred to as the Act of Parliament clock, with a very large face for easy visability. This clock was created in response to a proposed tariff on individual timepieces. The public was so incensed and the tavern clocks became so popular that the tax law was soon repealed.

The prominence of Great Britain as a leader in the industrial revolution made the production of accurate timekeepers a national priority. By the time Victoria became the Queen in 1837 there was a dial clock in every office, factory, school and railway station. Although battery driven and electrical movements have subsequently made the winding clock obsolete, there is a large body of collectors who still appreciate and value the simple elegant dials and the fine, intricate workmanship of the movements.

The book is divided into eleven chapters, with several appendices. Each chapter covers a specific type of dial clock, with careful documentation of its features, such as hands, bezels, pillars and dial faces. Some of the many illustrations are color photographs which are large and clear. There are also over 200 black and white pictures of clocks and movements with good descriptive detail. in addition, 385 line drawings of parts and mechanisms make this volume a useful guide for anyone interested in clocks for fun or for profit.

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