Antique 15″ Mahogany Anglo Swiss Challenge Railway Station / School Round Dial Wall Clock (Timepiece)

Summary:

• Item: 15” School Wall Clock
• Circa: 1930
• Provenance: Anglo-Indian (Calcutta)
• 15” external diameter
• Quality single brass barrel spring mechanism
• English Smiths Timepiece mechanism
• French polished mahogany case
• Levelling lugs & pins
• Side viewing door
• Black Arabic numeral face
• Pendulum access door
• Brass bezel
• Elegant shaped hands
• Original cream colour tin dial
• Winding key
• Detachable adjustable pendulum
• Restored & serviced
• Free delivery to mainland England, Wales & Southern Scotland*
• 2 Year UK warranty included
• Free 14-day UK returns policy

Description:

This is a good quality antique 15″ school wall clock, by Anglo Swiss “Challenge”, designed for use as municipal / railway / station clock, housing an English Smiths timepiece mechanism, circa 1930, with a mahogany case, which has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now in good working order.

This 15″ school wall clock houses a quality single brass barrel spring driven featuring an English Smiths timepiece mechanism.  During this time, the Smith’s company was exporting English mechanisms to the British colonies, where they were cased locally.  The Anglo Swiss clock company was a prominent clock maker, retailer and jeweler in Calcutta, colonial India, during the early 20th Century.  Established in 1909, they produced a large number of reliable and good quality timepieces, supplying both the domestic market and the British Empire.  The home offices and factory of the company were at Quartier de I’lndustric, Soleure, Switzerland.  (Source: Bengal and Assam, Behar and Orissa. Their History, People, Commerce, and Industrial Resources – Compiled by Somerset Playne FRGS, assisted by J.W. Bond. Edited by Arnold Wright – 1917).

This 15″ school wall clock features a beautiful mahogany case, with a moulded brass bezel, a pendulum access door on the underside and a mechanism-viewing door on the left-hand side that allows you to view the mechanism whilst in operation.  The mahogany case has been cleaned and French polished by hand to revive the wonderful colour and patination of the grain in the timber.  On the back of the clock is a bracket to attach the clock to the wall.

The movement has been restored and serviced and is now in good mechanical order, ensuring this clock is reliable and keeps good time. The pendulum, which is attached to the mechanism by accessing the clock from the door below, can be adjusted in length to allow you to regulate the clock speed. The 15″ school wall clock comes with a key, which is used to wind the mechanism through the centre of the face dial.

This 15″ school wall clock face retains the original ivory colour dial with black Arabic numeral numbering and an elegant shaped hour and minute hand.  A hinged solid brass bezel houses the glass face that protects the tin dial and face whilst in operation.  The brass bezel opens on a right-hand hinge to allow you to adjust or set the time. There is a catch to the back of the clock that locks the brass bezel in place and stops it from accidentally swinging open.

This 15″ school wall clock features brass levelling lugs and pins which are attached to each side of the clock and are designed to give the clock traction against the wall and allow the angle of the case to be adjusted away from the wall if the clock is hung on wall, which is not vertically straight, such as in old buildings.

The 15″ school wall clock looks great in a variety of rooms and also in either a traditional or contemporary setting.  This truly is a very beautiful wall clock of classic styling and quality construction.  It will become a member of the family after not too long!  So, don’t miss out your chance to own a lovely clock.

Provenance – Smiths Enfield:

Samuel Smith of London founded the “Smiths” company itself, in 1851 as a clock and watch business. They soon became one of the largest clock makers in Europe. From their head office in Cricklewood, North London, they produced clocks for the home, workplace, aircraft and the motor industry. Smiths also became a dominant supplier of precision instruments to the automotive sector from the early 1900s. Smiths’ clocks could be found everywhere from railway stations to schools, public buildings, the private manufacturing sector such Bentleys to Minis and even Spitfire aircraft.

The Enfield Clock Company (London) Ltd was formed in 1929 at Pretoria Road, Edmonton, London, N18. The first clocks were sold in 1932. The clocks were originally sold for wholesale and export to the British Colonies. They were also selling movements to shops as well as casing them up themselves. In 1933, the Enfield Company was finding it difficult to compete on price so the company was sold to Smiths Industries. This led to the world famous ‘Smiths Enfield’ clocks.

This clock was designed for use in public buildings such as schools or railway stations in the UK and further afield in the British colonies; therefore, its reliability and quality of construction were paramount. This clock is of very good quality and it was constructed prior to wartime restrictions were imposed regarding materials; therefore, no costs were spared in its construction.

Condition Report:

This is a good quality antique 15″ school wall clock, by Anglo Swiss “Challenge”, designed for use as municipal / railway / station clock, housing an English Smiths timepiece mechanism, circa 1930, with a mahogany case, which has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now in good working order.  The painted tin dial is in original condition, therefore exhibiting wear and old use marks.  The mahogany case is in lovely condition having been French polished.  The brass-hinged bezel is in good working order, with some play to the hinge.  The bezel-locking latch is present and working and prevents the bezel from opening. The mechanism is original; it has been cleaned and serviced and is in good working order, keeping good time.  As we are confident that you will have no problems with the mechanism, we offer a 2-year UK warranty whereby if there were a mechanical problem with the clock, we would collect it free of charge from you, have it repaired and returned free of charge to you.  We also offer a 14-day UK returns policy if you were not happy with it or wanted to return it for any reason.  Please also note, this 15″ school wall clock has the original mechanism; it has not been replaced with a cheaper devaluing electrical battery-operated kit that you see on some clocks.

Setting up the Clock:

The clock may require the pendulum to be adjusted once on the wall. The clock will only work if it is placed on a flat wall in a direct up-right position (not on a side angle). Detailed setup instructions will be included when the clock is delivered.

Dimensions:

External Diameter = 15″
Painted Dial Diameter = 12″
Depth = 4¾”