Carriage Clocks Shop
Welcome To The Carriage Clocks Store
The first traveling clock was invented and sold by Abraham Louis Breguet. General Napoleon Bonaparte of Paris, France was the buyer of the clock in 1798, prior to his departure for the Egyptian campaign. Today, there are many companies in existence that make authentic reproductions of both the original carriage clocks, and also those of the esteemed clock designers of the early nineteenth century.
Traveling clocks were initially designed for travelers to use as a time piece while traveling in carriages drawn by horses. It was essentially a portable clock. The design of the original version of this particular clock was a spring driven mechanism that was encased with a metal frame and a glass setting. For ease in carrying, there was a handle located on the top of the clocks. The clocks had to be wound with a key about once every eight days.
Most of the Carriage Clocks had chimes to mark the hour, and some even played songs using various notes and chords. There were also some that had a large, loud bell which was rung on the hour and the half hour. Today some of the modern versions may use the quartz, battery-operated timepieces instead of the spring-driven design, as they are less expensive.
Modern versions of these unique clocks often operate on batteries instead of the traditional spring-driven precision. Many antique collectors choose to purchase and display these clocks in their homes. Carriage Clocks hail from Belgium, France, Switzerland and Germany. Of all the different countries that produce these clocks, France is considered to have the most ornate and elaborate ones. Often, you will find that a collector chooses to display a French carriage clock on his or her mantelpiece for decorative purposes.
Montpellier Clocks and Roderick Antique Clocks have been restoring authentic Carriage Clocks for decades. They purchase authentic clocks in good condition, restore them and then resell them. The more original and stylish a clock happens to be, the more appealing it is to restore.
In 1975, the Roderick Antique Clocks Company was founded. The types of clocks they purchase, restore and resell include English, German and French made carriage clocks, longcases, skeleton, brackets, wall clocks, decorative French mantel clocks and even barometers. A collector can expect to find clocks made by Dent, Lenzkirch, Marti, Marc, Le Roy, Brocot, Jacot, Japy Freres, Drocourt, Hoffmier and Winterhalder, as well as many clock makers of English origin.
Montpellier Clocks came into existence in 1958. They are widely known for their skill in the restoration of authentic antique clocks. Only the highest quality clocks are chosen by this company for complete and careful restoration. They have clocks for sale that were made by Windmills and Whitehurst, William Dutton, George Graham, E.J. Dent, John Ellicott, Edward East, Charles Frodsham, Henry Hindley and countless other clock makers.
There is one company that has been in business much longer than Montpellier or Roderick. It is called L’Epee, and it came into existence in nineteenth century France, in 1839. Their original purpose was making movements, then escapements. Then, Carriage Clocks in their entirety were made in the L’Epee workshop. In 1999, the workshop was relocated to England as a result of being purchased by London clockmakers, F. A. Gluck. Currently, L’Epee continues to produce quality and precise carriage clocks that have the advantage of modern technology on their side.
