The Early Clocks
It is generally accepted that the first British domestic clocks were what we now call Lantern clocks. Lantern is thought to come from the word 'Latten', a past name for brass or possibly from the clock's resemblance to a lantern.

These clocks were constructed largely of brass with some iron components. They were wall hung, weight driven, striking the hours on a large overhead bell and usually about 16" high. Production seems to have started in the early 1600's, and rapidly settled into an established design which continued largely unchanged for about 150 years.

The three most important changes to lantern clocks all occurred around the middle of the 17th century. Firstly, the introduction of the Huygens endless rope system for the drive weight, which increased duration from 12 hours to 30 hours. Secondly, two new designs of escapement which vastly improved timekeeping.

The first clocks had balance wheel escapement which was a poor timekeeper, this was greatly improved by the Verge and short bob pendulum escapement but this in turn was soon to be outperformed by the new Anchor escapement and long seconds beating pendulum. This provided a quantum leap in improved timekeeping compared to the now outclassed Balance wheel. Sadly, from the collector's point of view, most of these early clocks were either scrapped or converted to one of the newer escapements.

Many writers think that the adoption of the long pendulum may have led to the evolution of the Lantern clock into the Longcase (or Grandfather clock). This theory is supported by examples of Lantern clocks that are housed in early longcase type wooden cases- perhaps to protect the long pendulum from interference by children and pets.

However, right from its earliest days the weight driven longcase clock appeared in both 30hr form, which was a direct descendant of the Lantern clock, and in the new mechanical design and layout seen in 8 day clocks. These were built on completely different principles.

Whilst the English longcase clock was in production for about 200 years- from about 1660 to1860- production had ceased in London by C.1800, although it continued to be very popular elsewhere in Britain. Throughout this long period of production, both 30hr and 8 day clocks where produced.

The 30hr's seemingly were less expensive to produce than 8 days for they involved fewer pieces and were also lower technology due to their (almost) invariable continued use of the countwheel strike system

as against the rack strike system which gradually became universal on 8 day clocks from around 1700.

The other main features or change over the 200 years were in the external appearance of the clocks. Case styles, woods and finishes gradually evolved- with strong regional characteristics emerging.

The early multi-piece 'chapter-ring and spandrels' dials acquired optional arches from C.1715 and subtly evolved in details of design, but remained unchallenged until C.1773 when the first painted dials appeared almost simultaneously with the engraved single sheet brass dials.

All three ran until C.1800 after which the painted dial was the only option except for 'special' and precision clocks.

Table or Bracket Clocks
Whilst Lantern and Longcase clocks always used weights for motive power, the use of springs presented the opportunity for the evolution of smaller, more portable, Bracket/Table clocks.

These suddenly appeared in the mid 1600's and rapidly became the vehicle for London clock makers to show off their ingenuity and skills for decoration, cutting edge design and complications of function.

Sumptuous and even extravagant case designs followed, especially for the burgeoning export trade to countries like the Ottoman Empire, China and Russia. Indeed their popularity in London seems to have led to the demise of the longcase clock there.

Broadly speaking, case woods and dial styles reflected the stylistic development seen in longcase clocks, whilst the beautiful engraved and other decoration seen on the earlier clocks gradually gave way to plain functionality.

The verge escapement of the early clocks was only replaced by the anchor much later than in the longcase clock, probably due to the verge being much more tolerant of the clock being moved and less affected by discrepancies in the level of surface than the anchor.

Virtually all British spring driven clocks (and watches) had the sophistication or a Fusee in their drive train(s). The purpose of the Fusee is to even out the variable power output of the spring over its duration, which would otherwise adversely effect timekeeping (or the rate of strike/chime/music play).

The Fusee wall clock
In the late 1700's British clock production consisted virtually entirely of Longcase and Bracket clocks, which were only affordable to the wealthy and were essentially domestic clocks.

What was increasingly needed in the burgeoning industrial revolution period was a simple, functional clock for 'non-domestic' situations. Enter the Fusee Dial clock C.1775.

These had a robust, plain, spring driven movement (usually timepiece only), with a fusee for good timekeeping, and large, easily read dial and hands. The clock movement was a housed in a simple wooden box, behind a round, glazed dial. The escapement rapidly changed from Verge to Anchor, and the dial also rapidly changed from silvered brass to painted wood and finally to painted iron.

Whilst there were minor case and bezel changes, the basic design remained unchanged until the 1970's! Often called Railway or School clocks these fusee dial clocks virtually ran industrialised Britain, countless thousands controlling the railways alone. Dial sizes commonly ran from 8" to 18", but by far the most common was 12". Many early clocks had convex dials.

Variants include the rare Georgian octagonal and drum cased versions, and many 'Drop-dial' versions were made with extended back boxes containing a longer pendulum, which gave improved timekeeping and a surface begging for decoration with brass inlays, windows or carved decoration.

The French Mantel Clock
The French clock owes its good reputation to the small, high quality movements that were produced in vast numbers. They were suited to being built into a large variety of cases styles, not only the very ornate that we associate with the French, but also increasingly to be bought in by the English and cased in English made cases to the English taste. These cases were often stylistic reproductions of earlier English bracket clock cases.

By the 1840's the simple and very effective silk suspension on these French movements was being replaced by various adjustable spring suspension systems, but the earlier countwheel strike system must have been cheaper to produce than the rack, for it can be found on some of the very late (post World War 1) movements, although generally the countwheel had been superseded by the rack by circa 1860.

The French mass produced the components in purpose built factories in the provinces; these were then individually built up into movements there, but some unfinished movements were sent to be finished in Paris to a higher standard for the more expensive market.

Carriage Clocks
The same production techniques (and in some cases factories) produced the quintessentially French carriage clock (most of which were destined for Britain- we produced nothing to compete with it for cost or function). They were produced in vast numbers and in a vast range of quality and complication- some being among the most complicated clocks ever produced.

They were produced from circa 1830, and although they virtually disappeared from production in the mid 20th century, they have now made a considerable comeback and are one of the few quality mechanical clocks produced today.