The first wall clocks were made in England in the late 1700s and, as the name implies, are designed to hang on the wall. Wall clocks from France soon followed in the 19th century.
Public Houses and Inns were probably the first to introduce wall clocks and featured round faces. As homes became more affluent, and able to afford these mechanical wall clocks, the clocks were adapted to the home but were not as accurate as the tavern wall clocks.
While thinking something as common today as a clock would have a social impact, especially on one’s status in society, that was the case in the 18th century. This being due to their cost which was out of reach for the majority of people.
English wall clock pendulum parts were spring driven with the early ones having a verge escapement. These were later replaced with the more accurate anchor escapements.
However, anchor escapements called for a longer pendulum then the verge and, as a result, required a larger, longer case. The dials of wall clocks are protected by glass and are normally painted wood or brass. On rare occasions you’ll find dials made of iron.
Wall clocks made in England and the United States tended to be made of wood, often imported from the West Indies, while the French rococo style wall clocks featured more metal in their construction.
Clock makers in the United States were the first to use mass production and their early clocks were the Banjo clock.
These featured the anchor escapement with a long pendulum and the drive mechanism was done with wind-up weights. They usually had dials painted white and were made of metal.
Antique Banjo clocks can hold great value, as can any antique wall clock, but there are many Banjo clock reproductions…so be careful in making any purchases.
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