A vintage brass carriage clock, fully dismantled, cleaned, serviced and reassembled by hand.
A well-presented vintage Matthew Norman of London brass carriage clock, with a white dial, black Roman numerals and blued-style hands. The case has bevelled glass panels to the front, sides, rear and top, with the top inspection window giving a clear view of the jewelled Swiss platform escapement. A decorative folding handle completes the classic carriage clock form.
Matthew Norman is a name steeped in the romance of horology. Legend has it that Napoleon himself, exasperated by officers arriving late to the field, made the carriage clock compulsory kit for his army — and it was this very demand that sent travel clocks into their 19th-century golden age. Matthew Norman has carried that tradition ever since, marrying elegant, portable design with genuine mechanical substance.
Behind the classic "London" name on the dial sits proper Swiss watchmaking pedigree: since 1979 the marque has been produced by Swiza S.A. in Switzerland, and it's been under their stewardship outright since 1991. That heritage shows in the piece before you — a jewelled Swiss platform escapement, a case built to be admired from every angle through five bevelled glass panels, and a level of finish that has kept Matthew Norman carriage clocks desirable more than a century after the style first captured Europe's imagination. This isn't a mass-produced mantel piece; it's a small, self-contained piece of engineering with a genuine story behind it, and a worthy centrepiece for any desk, mantel, or side table.
A professional carriage clock service in the UK typically runs to £200–£300, before you've even bought the clock, and often comes with a lengthy wait for a specialist to fit you in. This one has already been through that entire process, by hand, in our Norwich workshop — so you're not just buying a clock, you're buying a clock that's ready to run, with the servicing cost already built in rather than bolted on afterwards.
Buy this clock and there's no follow-up trip to a clockmaker, no separate invoice, and no waiting weeks for a service slot — it's done, and it's ready to go straight onto your mantel or desk.
| Height (including handle) | 14 cm / 5.5 in |
| Width | 8 cm / 3.1 in |
| Depth | 7 cm / 2.8 in |
Presented in excellent restored condition, as shown in the photographs. The brass has a bright, warm finish with only minor marks and surface wear consistent with age and previous use. The dial remains clean and attractive, and the glass panels present well. As with all vintage mechanical clocks, small variations in timekeeping may occur following transport or changes in temperature; a simple slow/fast regulator is fitted to the rear should minor adjustment ever be required.
The clock will receive a final pre-dispatch check before being carefully packed for safe delivery. Setup and winding guidance is included, and we're always happy to help with any questions after purchase.