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31494
THOMAS COLE, LONDON No 1239-31.  AN ATTRACTIVE MONTH DURATION TRIPOD CLOCK BY THIS WELL KNOWN VICTORIAN MAKER. CIRCA 1855

A very attractive month duration tripod clock.  The case of typical form with the stepped base containing a barometer and a Fahrenheit thermometer set above it and incorporating Cole’s own beat scale and pendulum hold fast device that is always to be found on his tripod clocks. The clock dial and movement are mounted near the top of the tripod arms.

The silvered dial is beautifully engraved in the centre and with spotted and engine turned border signed for the retailer Hunt & Roskell, London.  The large seconds dial below 12 o’clock has a very fine chronometer style seconds hand and the main dial has spade and pointer blued steel hands.

The top of the case is surmounted by a freely hung plum bob which is used for making certain the clock is level.

The timepiece movement is of typical form with a three plate set up.  The lower plate which houses the main spring barrel plus two intermediate wheels is much deeper than the top part of the movement which houses the remaining wheels in the train and the escape wheel.  The clock employs a deadbeat escapement and the pendulum, which consists of a brass rod with a heavy spherical silvered bob, is suspended from the tripod frame via a regulator style suspension spring. The backplate is numbered 1239  31and the clock is covered by a glass dome.

Height excluding dome:   20" (51 cms.)

Price band: D

Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole was born in 1800, the son of James, a clockmaker.   Thomas went into partnership with his brother James Ferguson Cole around 1823 until 1829.   The Great Exhibition of 1851 has Thomas listed as “Inventor, Designer and Maker”.   He was elected to the Royal Society of Arts on 28 June 1861 and was also admitted to the British Horological Institute in which his eminent brother played a leading role.   He was awarded a medal for ‘Excellence of Taste and Design’ at the International Exhibition of 1862 and the jury, led by Charles Frodsham, had nothing but praise in their official report.   Thomas Cole died on 3^rd January 1864.  

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Hunt & Roskell
Hunt & Roskell. Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths to Her Majesty. 156 New Bond Street, London.

Robert Roskell joined John Hunt in 1844 and the firm continued with great success until 1897.  The Limited Company traded until 1965.  Hunt and Roskell exhibited Thomas Cole’s clocks at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Further details can be found in ‘Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking’ by J. B. Hawkins and “Victorian Clocks” by Richard Good.