A FRENCH GILT BRASS REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK

A FRENCH GILT BRASS REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK Achille Brocot, Paris, late 19th centuryThe two train eight-day bell striking movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with A B oval star trademark over serial number 100 to backplate, the rectangular white enamel dial with Arabic five minutes to outer track and gilt moon hands, the frosted gilt bevel-glazed corniche case with hinged carrying handle over cavetto top mouldings, caddy moulded angles and skirt base.13cm (5ins) high excluding handle, 8.5cm (3.375ins) wide, 7.5cm (3ins) deep. Provenance : The estate of Lawrance Hurst. Achille Brocot is recorded in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development as born in 1817 and died in 1878.The Museums Victoria (Australia) website notes that Achille patented several improvements in clock mechanism escapements, and invented the 'Brocot Suspension', an adjustable pendulum spring which enabled time keeping to be regulated by altering the length of the pendulum suspension spring by a key turned in the dial. He also introduced a jewelled deadbeat escapement, sometimes called a visible escapement as it was often mounted in the middle of the dial. Achille was awarded a first class medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1855, and in 1856 was appointed Treasurer to La Société des Horlogers in Paris. He published a 'Calculation of the Wheels by Approximation' in 1862. His sons Achille and Paul continued the business following Achille senior's death 1878. The firm was taken over by rival clock maker Gustave Gibaudet in 1889.