Regulator Longcase Clock of Month Duration

Regulator Longcase Clock of Month Duration

Early Victorian mahogany regulator standing on a raised, moulded plinth with centre panel to the base.  Long trunk door with finely figured mahogany, break arch hood with circular side viewing windows.

Heavy cast brass bezel opening to a silvered dial with Roman numerals, original ‘blued’ steel hands, seconds dial directly below the XII signed ‘Meritt, Canterbury’.

Fine quality movement of one month duration with high pinion count, covered ruby endstones and rare planetary gearing ( Epicyclic).  ‘Graham’ dead beat escapement with jewelled pallet faces.  Wood rod pendulum with large brass bob and rating nut.  C.1840.

Epicyclic or planetary gearing is rarely used in clockmaking, although occasionally it is seen in Turret clocks, as well as reducing the effort required for winding the clock by 1: 2.5 it does also give an alternative method of providing maintaining power.  Clearly William Meritt was both a highly accomplished and ingenious maker as this is a regulator of the finest quality.

‘Kent Clocks and Clockmakers’ by Michael Pearson lists William Meritt as working in Watling Street, Canterbury from c.1838 to 1874.