Lot 146

*PLEASE NOTE - THIS LOT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT LEONARD JOEL, VIEWING IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY IN BURRADOO, NSW 2576*
- The Tower clock movement has been restored to working order however, the time keeping will only be accurate if the original 2.5 metre long pendulum is fitted and it is regulated.
- Earlier signs of renovation carried out in 1923 in Europe
- The name of the clockmaker - on the small inside dial - no longer legible


The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

Helmut & Herta Nagy (The Spinning Wheel), Sydney, c.1970
Nadja Zoffmann, by descent
Matthew Munn (Sydney Clock Company), Sydney, 2021

Commissioned research by the British Horological Institute's Museum of Time Keeping has dated the clock's creation to 1760-1810, probably in Austria. At that time, the Industrial Revolution was generating high demand for clocks, and skilled European craftsmen were developing new technologies and techniques to produce high-quality mechanical timepieces for a growing market.

The clock would originally have been set high in a tower (or turret) with a 2.5-metre pendulum swinging beneath. Pre-dating wristwatches, it played an important role in regulating the lives of all within hearing distance by chiming each quarter hour. A failsafe mechanism repeated the bells that marked the hour.

The clock was wound each day with a crank handle. A small dial allowed the clock winder to check what time the large, external clock face was showing.