Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
Lot 53
A fine and rare mid 19th century English gilt brass striking and repeating carriage clock with original numbered key and travel case James McCabe, Royal Exchange, London, 2451
2 July 2025, 13:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £7,680 inc. premium
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A fine and rare mid 19th century English gilt brass striking and repeating carriage clock with original numbered key and travel case
James McCabe, Royal Exchange, London, 2451
Surmounted by a turned carrying handle over a large bevelled observation window and plunge repeat button passing through the panel to the rear right-hand side, the moulded columns set between heavy bevelled glass panels to the sides, and to the rear a solid panel with shutters protecting the hand-setting and twin winding square arbors, further set with a slide to control the strike/not strike, and a finely engraved regulation scale marked0-7. The moulded base on four low-profile feet.
The 2.6 inch rectangular one-piece silvered dial with Roman numerals framed within a minute band with dotted five-minute markers. Signed below VI James McCabe, Royal Exchange, London 2451, with blued steel Breguet-style hands.
The twin chain fusee movement with maintaining power to the underslung English lever escapement with gilt monometallic balance set on a large cruciform-shaped platform, striking and repeating the hours on a blued steel gong, the backplate fully signed and numbered. Ticking and striking. Sold together with original fitted velvet-lined travel case and numbered double-ended setting and winding key. 19cms (7.5ins) high.
Surmounted by a turned carrying handle over a large bevelled observation window and plunge repeat button passing through the panel to the rear right-hand side, the moulded columns set between heavy bevelled glass panels to the sides, and to the rear a solid panel with shutters protecting the hand-setting and twin winding square arbors, further set with a slide to control the strike/not strike, and a finely engraved regulation scale marked0-7. The moulded base on four low-profile feet.
The 2.6 inch rectangular one-piece silvered dial with Roman numerals framed within a minute band with dotted five-minute markers. Signed below VI James McCabe, Royal Exchange, London 2451, with blued steel Breguet-style hands.
The twin chain fusee movement with maintaining power to the underslung English lever escapement with gilt monometallic balance set on a large cruciform-shaped platform, striking and repeating the hours on a blued steel gong, the backplate fully signed and numbered. Ticking and striking. Sold together with original fitted velvet-lined travel case and numbered double-ended setting and winding key. 19cms (7.5ins) high.
Footnotes
James McCabe Senior was born in 1748, he worked in London producing fine watches, clocks and chronometers in Fleet Street, Cheapside and eventually at 97 Cornhill, Royal Exchange. After his death in 1811, his son, also James, succeeded him.
James junior was apprenticed to Reid and Auld of Edinburgh, and continued the business under the name McCabe & Son, 99 Cornhill and later McCabe and Strahan, 97 Cornhill. He was made free of the Clockmakers Company in 1822. In 1838 the Royal Exchange was destroyed by fire and the business moved to 32 Cornhill where it continued until it was closed by James Junior's nephew, R.J. McCabe in 1883.
Another exceptional travel clock by McCabe with a near identical outer travel case was sold in these rooms 14th July 2022.
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