Carriage Clocks– What Makes Them Tick?

A carriage clock is a rectangular shaped, medium sized clock. The carriage clock was meant for travel during the 19th century. Traveling during the 1800s was done by carriage. The height of carriage clocks popularity was reached in the 1860s.

Fancy carriage clocks went beyond travel instead being given as special occasion presents. Although carriage clocks were meant to be travel clocks in their day, they were larger than most travel clocks since they were made with spring driven innards.

Find these common characteristics of carriage clocks

• The clock case: usually carriage clocks are housed in polished brass or other shiny metal.
• The clock face: look for a glass cover with the hands the foreground to a porcelain background to give time a sharp contrast.
• The porcelain: is typically well decorated and white in color so that its easily seen.
• The Large Handle: on the top of the clock should be a big handle to make it easy to carry while traveling inside a carriage.
• The Design of the carriage clock: Look for clean lines that have delicate features like a inlaid scroll, metal foliage or an stamped enamel, porcelain or gemstones.
• Chimes of the Carriage clock: almost all carriage clocks chime to mark the hour. Some can play a range of notes or chords.
• The Regal look of antique carriage clocks: since carriage clocks have a rich history, many people love to have these clocks in their home, especially if they like antique décor, such as placing the clock above the fireplace or in a den.

Carriage Clocks Now: Antique Design with Modern Clockwork

Today, some carriage clocks use quartz movement to tell the time, instead of the historically spring driven clockwork. The convenience and affordable price of quarts is popular in today’s carriage clocks. While some of the traditionally made carriage clocks may be split open to display the beauty of a spring driven clockwork for all to admire the depth and detail of a carriage clock with spring movement.