A VICTORIAN EBONISED LONGCASE 'SHOP' REGULATOR INCORPORATING GREENWICH MEAN TIME GALVANOMETER

A VICTORIAN EBONISED LONGCASE 'SHOP' REGULATOR INCORPORATING GREENWICH MEAN TIME GALVANOMETERArnold and Lewis, Manchester, circa 1872The substantial eight-day six double-screwed finned columnar pillar movement with plates measuring 9 by 5.125 inches enclosing wheel train with high wheel/pinion counts, six spoke wheel crossings throughout, Harrisons maintaining power and deadbeat escapement incorporating jewelled pallets, regulated by mercury jar compensated seconds pendulum incorporating wide jaw suspension, faceted glass container and hanging from a brass bracket screwed to the case backboard, the 16 inch circular cream painted dial with subsidiary seconds inscribed Regulator to apex over Roman numeral hour dial and signed ARNOLD AND, LEWIS to centre and with MANCHESTER to lower edge within outer Arabic minute track, with blued steel hands and canted brass bezel to circumference, the arched case with twin curved glass panels top over door with gilt-line decorated circular moulded glazed dial aperture interrupted by a small silvered galvanometer dial with single hand and 180 degree sector annotated 20-0-20 over inscription ARNOLD & LEWIS, GREENWICH, MEAN TIME fronting an electric coil supported within brass frame to lower margin, above further concave-topped rectangular glass panel enclosing decorative scroll-pierced brass brackets for the movement above elaborate parcel-gilt decorated scroll-pierced beat scale with red velvet lined panel behind, the sides with rectangular windows, on plinth base with quarter-round top moulding over gilt carved inscription ARNOLD LEWIS, WATCH & CLOCK, MANUFACTURERS to fascia and skirt base incorporating bracket feet with shaped apron between.210cm (82.5ins) high, 68.5cm (27ins) wide, 38cm (15ins) wide. Provenance: The Selwyn Demmy Collection. Arnold and Lewis were makers and retailers of high quality watches, clocks and chronometers who succeeded I. Simmons at 7 St. Ann's Square Manchester in 1871 where they remained until 1905. In July 1872 they installed a shop regulator with a galvinometer connected to Greenwich at their premises (designed by Edward Salomons architect) incorporating an exterior clock dial with a Greenwich style falling ball dropping at 1pm daily. This was reported in the Manchester Guardian, and no doubt provided endless publicity for the new proprietors. The current lot would appear to be that very regulator as it is fitted with a galvanometer which would be receive an electrical impulse from Greenwich every hour causing the needle to 'flick' exactly on the hour. As the 'shop regulator' the present timepiece would have served to set and check the time of watches in the showroom as well provide accurate 'Greenwich Mean Time' to the public.