Antiques
DERBYSHIRE ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES by Maxwell Craven
WHITEHURST WALL CLOCKS
The commonest type of wall hanging clock one sees at sales and in antique shops is the fusée wall clock or dial clock , consisting of a prominent dial set within a timber ( mahogany or rosewood as a rule ) bezel with a spring-driven movement behind , wound via arbors in the dial . Sometimes one sees drop dial versions , with part of the case protruding from the bottom of the dial , American made versions often having a false pendulum behind a glass panel ( so you know the clock is running !)
These clocks began to be made in the mid-18 th century , and early ones are very desirable , but most 18 th century wall clocks were just long case type movements and dials fixed to a wall bracket under a hood .
Above & right : Early wall alarum of c . 1775 by John Whitehurst FRS ( inset ) discreet masonic symbol engraved underneath the setting dial ; Whitehurst was a keen freemason . M . Fletcher .
Below : Typical small brass dial 30 hour alarum by John Whitehurst III Bamfords .
Below right : Exceedingly elegant but rare Whitehurst & Son fuse wall clock . B . Loomes .
Derby ’ s eminent maker , John Whitehurst FRS ( 1713-1788 ) however , was a co-founder of the Lunar society and consequently had considerable connections with industry . As a result he pioneered the simple pendulum wall clock , to go in mills , factories and below stairs in great houses . A few early examples by him exist with 30 hour movements , small 6 inch brass or silvered dials and neat little movements boxed in behind , with a metal loop above and two prongs at the bottom of the movement to hang on a wall , the prongs ’ purpose being to keep the clock vertical . This was the prototype of the hook-and-spike wall clock .
It was not until he was succeeded by his nephew , John Whitehurst II , that these clocks really became a staple of the works in Iron Gate ( and later in Cherry Street ) at Derby . From 1809 John II worked in partnership with his
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