Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Congreve Rolling Ball Clock by Thwaites & Reed, London

$16,927.80
£12,500
€14,649.60
CA$23,344.16
A$26,226.12
CHF 13,703.19
MX$320,102.04
NOK 173,990.45
SEK 163,775.36
DKK 109,320.80

About the Item

Congreve Rolling Ball Clock Sir William was born in 1772 and died in 1828, son of General Sir William Congreve, 1st Baronet. He was a Tory member of parliament who immersed himself in inventing at the Royal Arsenal. Pioneering the development and deployment of Congreve rockets. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and enjoyed the friendship of the Prince Regent. Congreve Rolling Ball Clock was invented by Sir William Congreve in 1808. Sir William was not a clockmaker but an inventor. He hired the well known firm of clockmakers Gravel and Tolkien to produce the first working version which was weight (rather than spring) driven. He presented this to the Prince of Wales in 1808. The second version which was spring driven was constructed by John Moxon and is now in the collection at Buckingham Palace. The clock uses a steel ball rolling along a horizontal zig-zag track rather than a pendulum to regulate the time. The ball takes fifteen seconds to run from one end of the track to the other, where it trips the escapement which in turn reverses the tilt of the tray and causes the hands of the clock to move forward. Therefore, the second hand jumps forward at every fifteen second interval. Congreve Rolling Ball clocks are unreliable timekeepers, the time taken for the ball to traverse the track can vary greatly depending on the circumstances of the ball and of the track. This very fine example was made in 1973 by the famous London clockmaking firm of Twaites and Reed as a limited edition of 100. This one is numbered 49. The clock stands on a lacquered brass stepped base with rectangular ‘Zig-Zag’ table for the rolling ball and revolving seconds above. Gilded, reeded Corinthian columns support the architectural pediment with three silvered dials for seconds, minutes and hours. This magnificent timepiece rests on a mahogany stepped base with adjustable gilded feet. The silvered plaque to the base reads ‘This clock, No.49 of a limited edition of 100, made in 1973 by Thwaites and Reed Ltd’.
  • Creator:
    Thwaites & Reed (Clockmaker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)Width: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Depth: 12.5 in (31.75 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1973
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. very good condition.
  • Seller Location:
    Norwich, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: SKU000011881stDibs: LU4037334473862

More From This Seller

View All
Early Victorian English Skeleton Clock by Joseph Watson & Son, Cambridge
Located in Norwich, GB
Early Victorian Skeleton Clock by Joseph Watson & Son, Cambridge Eight day chain fusee movement with fine wheelwork set between steeple sh...
Category

Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

William IV Double Fusee Skeleton Clock by A. Stewart, London
Located in Norwich, GB
A William IV Skeleton clock of fine quality with two massive scroll plates sitting on rectangular, silvered plinths and standing on a mahogany base with block feet. Eight day doubl...
Category

Antique 1830s English William IV Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Miniature Egyptian Style Walnut Bracket Clock, Barraud & Lund, London
By Francis Barraud
Located in Norwich, GB
Miniature Egyptian Style Walnut Bracket Clock, Barraud & Lund, London Rare miniature English fusee bracket clock housed in an Egyptian style walnut case with ebony mouldings, steppe...
Category

Antique 1850s English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Walnut

George III Mahogany Bell Top Bracket Clock by Paul Rimbault, London
By Paul Rimbault
Located in Norwich, GB
George III bracket clock by Paul Rimbault, London Finely figured mahogany bell top case with four finials surmounted by a brass hinged car...
Category

Antique 1770s English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

George III Mahogany English Fusee Bracket Clock by William Chater, London
Located in Norwich, GB
George III Bracket Clock. Stunning mahogany case with Cupola top surmounted by a ‘pineapple’ finial, profusely inlaid with brass, fishscal...
Category

Antique 1810s English George III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

George III Mahogany Bell Top Bracket Clock With Verge Escapement by H.Thomas
By Henry Thomas
Located in Norwich, GB
George III bracket clock by H.Thomas, London Mahogany bell top case surmounted with hinged carrying handle and four brass ball finials stan...
Category

Antique 1760s British George III Mantel Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

You May Also Like

Miniature English William Congreve Rolling Ball Clock
Located in Danville, CA
Here is a beautiful miniature Congreve rolling ball clock. This one comes with a solid marble display base and protective dome. The glass dome has solid brass frames. The clock is made of heavy solid brass. The time shows on 3 separated porcelain dials - second, minute, and hour. The clock is driven by a double spring movement. It is really fun to watch this clock running. It has an 8 DAY movement. The bigger version from our competitor wouldn't even run 8 days. Our smallest 8 day Congreve clock...
Category

Late 20th Century Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

English Tripod Table Regulator Clock by Thomas Cole, Retailed by Hunt & Roskell
By Thomas Cole (Clockmaker)
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine English Tripod Table Regulator Clock by Thomas Cole, With Integral Thermometer and Barometer, Retailed by Hunt & Roskell, London Signed to the dial for the retailer ‘Hunt & Roskell, London.’ No. 1318 /38 The circular six-inch silvered dial with cast bezel, signed ‘Hunt & Roskell, London’, above Roman chapters and blued steel spade hands, set with a large subsidiary seconds dial below XII, the centre finely engraved with scrolling strapwork decoration. The steel winding square protruding through an engraved and shaped plate immediately below 6 o'clock with handset achieved by adjustment to the rear. The movement with tapered plates joined by cylindrical screwed pillars, a two-part backplate, a going barrel, and deadbeat escapement. The pendulum suspended from the apex of the tripod from a G-bracket, with plumb line above, fine regulation achieved by a sliding cylindrical weight on the rod, terminating in a heavy silvered spherical bob secured via Cole's pendulum-locking system. The case formed of three cylindrical rods set on a gilt and stepped circular base engraved with scrolling foliage, the recessed centre with a semi-circular glazed barometer with silvered register scale, blued steel hand and manually adjustable gilt recording hand. The tilted thermometer within an engraved and gilded surround. Below the tip of the pendulum is a beat scale resting on a bimetallic bar providing thermal compensation, the base resting on three adjustable gilt-metal levelling nuts. Retaining its original glass dome and brass winding key. England, Circa 1855. This fine and rare timepiece by Thomas Cole is a masterpiece of design. Described by Hawkins in 'Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking' as “the first English table regulator for a gentleman’s library table,” Cole’s strut clock underwent over eight iterations before achieving a design that combined precision with extraordinary elegance. The use of a tripod to determine the optimal pendulum suspension point is just one of several ingenious mechanisms Cole employed. Three adjustable nuts serving as feet allow for effective levelling of the clock, while a plumb line and bob ensure precise vertical alignment. Relocating the winding square directly beneath the dial eliminates the risk of scratching the surface or damaging the hands, while the inclusion of a thermometer, angled at 45 degrees, effectively conceals the beat scale and pendulum locking mechanism. Ingeniously designed, the locking mechanism positioned just below the pendulum’s tip includes a beat scale resting on a brass bar that can be raised to secure the pendulum in place. This mechanism also provides thermal compensation through a bi-metallic strip, which automatically raises or lowers the bob in response to temperature fluctuations. Both inventive and aesthetically striking, this rare clock exemplifies the highly ornamental Victorian timepieces...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Steel

A rare 17th century English eight-day spring-driven table clock by J Gerrard
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A Rare Late 17th Century English Eight-Day Spring-Driven Table Clock, Circa 1700. England Signed J. Gerrard. This exceptional late 17th-century English eight-day table clock is a s...
Category

Antique 17th Century English William and Mary Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mid 19th Century Bracket Clock By Jump, London
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A two train 19th century ebonised bracket clock by Jump, London. A fine quality movement, signed on the back plate. Circa 1860 Height is to the top of the handle
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Fine quality antique carriage clock by Mappin and Webb
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique carriage clock by Mappin and Webb, having a fine quality antique carriage clock with beautiful floral fretwork frontage sur...
Category

20th Century English Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Elizabethan Revival Mantel Clock, circa 1840
By Harvey & Co.
Located in London, GB
A fine early Victorian gilt-brass mantel clock by Harvey & Co in an Elizabethan Revival architectural style, circa 1840. The back plate inscribed ...
Category

Antique 19th Century British Clocks

Materials

Brass