Share your favorites on Show & Tell

1880's French Onyx and Bronze Ormolu Crystal Regulator

In Clocks > French Clocks > Show & Tell.
French Clocks10 of 120Unknown French ClockTIFFANY & Co DECO CLOCK
25
Love it
0
Like it

ho2cultchaho2cultcha loves this.
vintagegirl66vintagegirl66 loves this.
LongingsLongings loves this.
egreeley1976egreeley1976 loves this.
Sunmoon2679Sunmoon2679 loves this.
sanhardinsanhardin loves this.
AntigueToysAntigueToys loves this.
DesignerDesigner loves this.
RadegunderRadegunder loves this.
Lady_PickerLady_Picker loves this.
MooreAntiqueMooreAntique loves this.
Bruce99Bruce99 loves this.
jscott0363jscott0363 loves this.
BHIFOSBHIFOS loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
ManikinManikin loves this.
raven3766raven3766 loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
Cokeman1959Cokeman1959 loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
mikelv85mikelv85 loves this.
Vynil33rpmVynil33rpm loves this.
MrstyndallMrstyndall loves this.
dav2no1dav2no1 loves this.
See 23 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 3 years ago

    rlwindle
    (151 items)

    I bought this clock on eBay, it is a massive French Onyx and Bronze Ormolu Crystal Regulator, What’s interesting is that this clock has a genuine mercury pendulum. The two silvery cylinders you see on the pendulum are actually glass vials, partially filled with mercury. Its purpose is to maintain accurate timekeeping despite temperature variations.

    Metal expands when the temperature rises, so the pendulum will actually lengthen, causing the clock to run slower. However, the mercury in the vial rises upward with the elevated temperature. This causes the functional pendulum length to remain relatively stable, and the clock maintains more accurate time. Cooler weather has the opposite effect and will shorten the pendulum. Normally this would cause the clock to gain time, but the mercury level lowers, keeping “functional pendulum length” the same. Think of it as a remaining constant center of gravity.
    This is one of the few clocks that ran straight out of the shipping box.
    It is 18.5" in height, 12" inches in length, and 4.5 in depth, it has nibbles and fleabites on the onyx and one of the glass panels is broken, other wise it is in excellent running shape.

    logo
    French Clocks
    See all
    Small Antique 19thC Gilt Bronze Ormolu Louis XVI French Cartel Wall Clock NR
    Small Antique 19thC Gilt Bronze Orm...
    $81
    ANTIQUE FRENCH MINIATURE 8 DAY EBONISED GRANDFATHER CLOCK c1900-see video
    ANTIQUE FRENCH MINIATURE 8 DAY EBON...
    $39
    Antique Swinging Cherub 8-Day Mantel Clock - Portico Skeleton Clock By Farcot
    Antique Swinging Cherub 8-Day Mante...
    $98
    Clock Suspension Springs English French German Grandfather Wall Mantle 100
    Clock Suspension Springs English Fr...
    $37
    logo
    Small Antique 19thC Gilt Bronze Ormolu Louis XVI French Cartel Wall Clock NR
    Small Antique 19thC Gilt Bronze Orm...
    $81
    See all

    Comments

    1. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 3 years ago
      Quit a scientifically designed mechanism.
    2. raven3766 raven3766, 3 years ago
      Beautiful!
    3. Bruce99 Bruce99, 3 years ago
      Nice with good write up. Glass shouldn't be too expensive to replace ~$40-$50 at most. Thanks for sharing.

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.