AUCTION : 0519

Lot#: 156

DESCRIPTION: Alexander Bain, London, a rare electromagnetic skeleton clock, the simple, well finished brass frames joined by four turned pillars and with two flat, rectangular brass feet, the movement with two wheel train, the hour wheel with wiper contact behind an insulated thermoplastic bar with six segment contact ring, breaking the circuit for short periods every two hours, roman numeral silvered brass dial signed "A. Bain's Patent Electric Clock", blued steel trefoil hour hand and tapered minute hand, half seconds pendulum with steel rod, the bob made up of alternating layers of brass and steel, and interacting with a pivoted L shaped brass arm with pawl, advancing the escape wheel at one second intervals, the pendulum impulsed at every vibration by two polished, brass clad coils, the windings covered in red velvet, all resting on an ebonized oval base with seven terminals at the back, and conforming glass dome
CONDITION: plates good, with marks from handling, movement missing the contact slide that interacts with the the pendulum, dial resilvered, minute hand with minor bends, pendulum good, with evidence of minor oxide on steel components, red velvet faded and fragile, right coil missing two screws, and a bit loose, base with minor scrapes and dings, dome with minor chips and flakes at bottom edge, dome does not sit at bottom of groove due to shrinkage in base, not running. This clock was included in the " Electrifying Time" exhibition at London's Science Museum from 21/15/76 to 4/11/77, and is illustrated on page 43, Plate 2 in the exhibition catalog. See also "Collectible Clocks" by Alan and Rita Shenton for a color image of this timepiece. A copy of this clock was sold at Bonhams, London, June 28, 2011, lot 140.
ESTIMATE: $8000 - $12000
PRICE SOLD: $45000
CIRCA: 1850
DIMENSIONS: 15.5in x 14.5in x 7.75in
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