Thomas Cole, London c1856

 A large 8-day rectangular strut timepiece complete with its original travelling case and original hands setting key.  The clock is signed on the engraved and silvered dial for the retailer London & Ryder 17 New Bond S^t. London, the rear of the case has the same inscription.

The timepiece has blued steel fleur de lys pattern hands.

The dial has retained its original silvering and lettering, the case gilding is now very worn hence the case has been lacquered.

Access to the hand setting square and time regulation is via shuttered apertures on the rear of the case. The clock has a lever escapement and an uncompensated balance. 

It is known that Thomas Cole was sometimes slow to complete and/or sell some of his work. The serial number dates this clock to circa 1856 so presumably it was sold to London & Ryder very soon after they commenced business at 17 New Bond Street in 1859.  London & Ryder occupied the same Bond Street premises until 1940.

The clock has an engraved and gilt brass case with a pivoted swivel foot to allow the clock to stand upright or be presented at an angle.

The movement backplate is signed Thos Cole London and the frontplate is numbered 1356. The serial number 1356 is also stamped on the underside of the case, on the main case casting, on the dial plate under the mask and on one other case component.

Case height, including handle, 8½ inches.

Thomas Cole was born in Somerset in 1800, the son of a clockmaker.  Cole moved to London in the early 1820’s but was not working independently until about 1838.  By 1845 Cole was calling himself a ‘designer and maker of ornamental clocks’ and exhibited as such at the Great Exhibition of 1851.  He is justly famous for high quality clocks of individual design always with fine engraving. Thomas Cole died of typhoid fever on 3^rd January 1864.

Stock No. C1052