Unusual contemporary clock by and signed F.H. Whitlock with ...

Hammer

£1,200

Unusual contemporary clock by and signed F.H. Whitlock with planetary gearing, the 6" skeletonised chapter ring and movement upon curving supports to an oval base, within a brass bound glazed case upon a mahogany base, 11.5" high (pendulum)
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** During the 1970s, Dent of London worked in collaboration with the exceptionally talented Fred Whitlock in faithfully reproducing technically ingenious skeleton clocks from the past – this English skeleton clock with sun and planets gearing, a triple-weight French skeleton clock and one (the design inspired by the Concorde aeroplane) with remontoire winding. As with many designs produced by Fred Whitlock and others for Dent in this period, the quality of both the engineering and finish are exceptional

Between November of 1973 and February 1974, Dent of London produced this reproduction of a design by William Strutt of Derby from the late 1820s, and produced then in small numbers by his friend and similarly gifted engineer, William Wigston. The original production ran to only twenty pieces due to the excessive cost. Dent’s 1970s production was limited to a run of 100 pieces

The clock features epicyclic gearing, also referred to as ‘sun and planets’ gearing. Mounted on the central arbor is a large ring with both internal and external teeth. This one wheel gears up the escape wheel, and gears down the hour wheel. A full explanation of epicyclic gearing and this clock in particular is given on pages 99-101 of F.B. Royer-Collards book, Skeleton Clocks