An important Victorian period Giant English carriage clock, the finely chased brass case retaining its original gilding with scroll and reeded carrying handle.

The silvered dial is engraved in a similar style to the case with Roman numerals, blued steel spade hands and a subsidiary seconds dial. It is signed J W Benson Ludgate Hill London.

The high quality striking triple-fusee movement has heavy plates, boldly turned pillars and is keywound through shutters on the backplate. There are separate trains for striking the hours on a single bell and the quarters on six bells. It also has gilt bi-metallic compensated balance and lever escapement.

The solid rear door has shutters for the winding holes and handset. The side glasses have push buttons to repeat the hours and quarters.

Height: 10 in (25.5 cm)

The company S.S. & J.W. Benson was formed in 1847 but after 1855 were known as J.W. Benson. They were suppliers to the Admiralty and the War Department and Makers to the Queen and the Prince of Wales. They continued to manufacture watches, clocks and chronometers until the Second World War when their workshops were lost in the London bombing. They subsequently bought in movements from outside suppliers, and eventually were sold to Garrard the Crown Jewellers in the 1970s

PD01