Beehive clock enquiry

[Dipsy]

Hi Guys,
Please help me identify the manufacturer and aproximate year of manufacture of my new acquisition. There is no manufacturer stamp on the mvt. The size of the clock case is 24cm x 36.5cm x 15cm. The clock mvt is marked on the left hand side of the back plate 22 and on the right hand side 77578. It is marked 77579 on the right hand side of the front plate. Size of mvt is 11cm x 10.5cm x 4cm. The mvt weighs 2.2lbs. I notice that the chime hammers operate independently. They are located on the 9 o'clock side of the clock (right hand side of the back plate). The two strike hammers operate as one unit and the are located on the 3 o'clock side of the clock (left hand side of the back plate.) The chime/strike sequence is as follows: quarter past = ding dong bell, half past = ding dong bell twice, quarter to the hour = ding dong bell thrice and on the hour only ding dong bell x the number of the hour.(10 o'clock would be ding dong bell x 10). I am not convinced that the face dial & bezel of the clock is the original one but the rest of the clock looks original. Any info shall be highly appreciated. Kind regards, Etienne.

 

[wow]

Looks German to me. When you say ding dong bell, do you mean that it rings a bell? I see no bell in the photos and the hammers only strike the rods. Sounds similar to a grande sonnere or blind man’s clock. Let’s you know what 1/4 hour by listening only, not looking at clock.

 

[Dipsy]

Dear WOW, no, the clock mvt has no bell at all, only the hammers which strike on the chime/strike gong. I tried to rather describe the chime/strike sequence than the actual sound itself. You are correct in saying you can tell the time by just listening to the chime & strike.
Kind regards, Etienne.

 

[JTD]

You are correct in saying you can tell the time by just listening to the chime & strike.
Kind regards, Etienne.

I am confused, how can you tell the time without looking at the clock except when it's at the full hour? You could know that it was quarter, half or three-quarters past or to an hour, but you wouldn't be able to know the hour without looking at the clock. It would be the same with a Westmintster chime.

Sounds similar to a grande sonnerie or blind man’s clock.

Well it doesn't sound like one to me, but perhaps I am missing something (see post above). Such a clock would repeat the last hour, which this one doesn't.

But again, perhaps I have misunderstood.

 

[Dipsy]

My apologies guys, I have listened to the chime/strike sequence again. This is not a Sonnerie type mvt. I would rather describe it as a 3/4 Westminster type mvt, same as some HAC wall clocks. One can only tell the time on the hour without looking at the clock itself. It does not repeat the hours on the 15 min intervals before the actual 15 min chime every 15 min interval. Hope this makes more sense.

 

[JTD]

Hope this makes more sense.

Indeed it does! (And it is what I had been 99% certain of in my heart!)

Thanks for clarification.

JTD