Large Antique Japanese 20″ Mahogany Trademark Railway Station / School Wall Clock (Chiming / Striking)

This is a good quality antique large wall clock, measuring 20-inches in diameter, designed for use as a municipal / railway / station clock, housing a Trademark chiming mechanism, circa 1930 – 1940, which has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now in good working order. 

Summary: 

• Item: Large Wall Clock 

• Railway / School Wall Clock design 

• Circa: 1920 

• 20-inch external diameter 

• Double barrel brass spring chiming mechanism 

• Dial displays “Trade-S-Mark” logo 

• French polished mahogany case 

• “Deep dish” case design 

• Original Arabic tin dial 

• Pendulum access door 

• Brass bezel 

• Elegant shaped hands 

• Ivory colour tin dial  

• Winding key 

• Detachable adjustable pendulum 

• Restored & serviced 

• 2-Year UK warranty included 

• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland* 

• 14-day free UK returns policy 

Description:

This is a good quality antique large wall clock, measuring 20-inches in diameter, designed for use as a municipal / railway / station clock, housing a Trademark chiming mechanism, circa 1930 – 1940, which has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now in good working order. 

This large chiming wall clock houses a quality double brass barrel spring driven chiming mechanism. 

This large station wall clock boasts a dark beautiful mahogany case, with a moulded wooden bezel and a pendulum access door on the underside.  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. 

This large wall clock houses a quality double brass barrel spring driven chiming mechanism.  The clock chimes once on the half hour and also every hour to the number of hours.  The left-hand hole in the dial face is to wind up the clock movement and the right-hand hole is to wind up the chiming movement. This design gives you the option of either having the chiming mechanism enabled or disabled; allowing you to choose whether you want the chiming noise to be heard. 

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 length, which is attached to the mechanism by accessing the clock from the door below, can be adjusted to allow you to regulate the speed of the clock.  The clock comes with a key, which is used to wind the mechanism through the centre of the face dial. 

This large wall clock retains its original cream colour tin dial with faded black Arabic numerals and an elegant shaped hour and minute.  The tin dial displays the logo “Trade S Mark” in the centre of the dial, which we believe to be an abbreviation for the company “Shokosha” which were one of the early manufacturers of industrial clocks in Japan during the 1920’s. 

The wooden bezel is hinged above the 12 o’clock position, to allow you to adjust or set the time.  The bezel contains a glass panel, which protects the tin dial and face whilst in operation.  There is a catch to the side of the case that locks the bezel in place and stops it from accidentally swinging open. 

This mahogany station clock would look great in a variety of rooms from 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. 

Dimensions: 

• External Diameter = 20″
• Painted Dial Diameter = 16″
• Depth = 5½” 

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. 

History of Japanese Wall Clocks:

Japan rapidly modernized their clock making skills, during the Meiji Restoration period (1868 – 1912), importing Western technology, including pendulum wall clocks from Germany and Switzerland.  Japanese manufacturers began producing their own clocks using Western techniques. Early clocks imitated German Gustav Becker or Junghans styles.  Later, uniquely Japanese motifs—such as cherry blossoms or geometric latticework—appeared in cases.  By the late 19th century, several Japanese companies began making clocks domestically, often influenced by Western designs but with distinctive branding: 

Seikosha (now Seiko) – Founded in 1881 as K. Hattori & Co., later producing clocks under the trademark Seikosha.  Produced wall clocks with wooden cases, pendulums, and striking mechanisms. 

Citizen (Shokosha) – Started in the 1920s, producing clocks with an emphasis on reliability and industrial design. 

Other Trademark Brands – Rhythm, Orient, and smaller regional makers also appeared, often marking their clocks with kanji or logos that became collectible today. 

Prior to World War II, Japan exported many clocks to Asia, Indian, Europe, and North America.  Export clocks often featured Roman numerals and English brand markings. 

History of Anglo-Indian Wall Clocks: 

Indian Railway wall clocks, crucial for 19th century standardisation, evolved from British-imported, pendulum-driven mechanical timepieces to modern quartz systems. Primarily manufactured by firms like John Walker & Co. (London) in the 1880s, these clocks featured bold Roman numerals on white dials, crucial for station punctuality. They synchronised Indian time, transitioning from local variations to Indian Standard Time (IST) in 1906. 

A variety of companies around the world manufactured and supplied clock mechanisms in the early part of the 20th century to India, to furnish the railways and public buildings, such as schools.  Manufactures such as the English Smiths clocks, the English Enfield clock company and the American Ansonia clock company, as well as domestic manufacturers such as Anglo-Swiss.  Most clocks were cased locally in order to reduced shipping costs. 

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

Sources:

https://newgateworld.com/blogs/style/how-railway-clocks-became-interior-icons  

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Enfield_Clock_Co  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiths_Group  

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG222721  

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG222721#:~:text=Company%20producing%20factory%20made%20clocks,and%20Smiths%20becomes%20less%20clear    

Condition Report: 

This is a good quality antique large wall clock, measuring 20-inches in diameter, designed for use as a municipal / railway / station clock, housing a Trademark chiming mechanism, circa 1930 – 1940, which has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now in good working order.  Nominal old use marks to the case and tin dial but nothing significant considering the age of the item.  The mahogany case is in good condition.  The mahogany case has cleaned and French polished.  This large station wall clock retains its original painted tin dial and hands, which show signs of fading, which is to be expected, given its age and original condition.  The brass-hinged bezel is in good working order, with some movement in the hinge.  The bezel-locking latch is present and working and prevents the bezel from opening. The mechanism 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 clock has the original mechanism; it has not been replaced with a cheaper devaluing electrical battery-operated kit that you see on some clocks. 

Terms & Conditions:

Before purchasing this item, please ensure that you have read and agreed to our Terms & Conditions of Sale.  Furthermore, if you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms, we encourage you to contact us to discuss them in advance.

Product Code: 118024