Unusual 8-Day "Smiths" Bezel Wind Car Clock. 1920s

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Good quality bezel wind car clock with an unusual sprung wire mounting device. Manufactured by Smiths during the 1920's.

This clock has a solid brass case and is wound by turning the bezel. It contains a good quality, 8 day lever movement and the hands are adjusted by a small extending knob located below the 6 o'clock position. The dial is engraved with the number "H-91.233". The clock is designed to be attached to the top of the dashboard by an unusual wire spring device which grips the sides of the clock case and locates into studs either side. Pulling the two handles at the ends of the spring allows the clock to be released from it's mount. Diameter of clock case (not including hand adjustment knob) : 90mm. Very good condition. Working order.

S. Smith & Sons Ltd was founded as a by Samuel Smith in London in 1851. Samuel Smith was born in Ilford, Essex in 1827 and opened a watch & clock makers shop in Newington Causeway, London in 1851. Samuel’s eldest son, also named Samuel was born in 1851 and followed his father into the business. Samuel senior died on 4th February 1875, aged 48 and his son took over the business. The company expanded rapidly, opening showrooms at The Strand and later at Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly. Smith & Sons also owned factories in Clerkenwell, London and Bienne, Switzerland. They had many notable customers, became watchmakers to the Admiralty, supplier of explorers watches to the Royal Geographical Society and produced a range of high quality timepieces including certified chronometers, chronographs and repeaters.

In 1899, Samuel formed the private company, S. Smith & Son Ltd, and transferred his business to it. At this time, they started manufacturing motor clocks and in 1904 produced the first British odometer and speedometer. They added many other motoring accessories to their range and in July 1914 formed S. Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) Ltd.
During W.W.I., the company supplied the British War Department with watches, clocks, vehicle accessories, aircraft instruments, and shell fuses. In 1915 a factory at Cricklewood opened employing 400 persons, which soon increased to 2000.

In 1927 the Smith & Sons acquired an interest in the English Jaeger company who manufactured clocks, watches and motoring/aviation instruments. The following year A.B.E.C. Ltd. (All British Escapements Company) was created to manufacture escapements for both Smiths and Jaeger clocks. In 1931 Smiths English Clocks Ltd. was created to produce domestic clocks and the new company became the watch and clock division of S Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) Ltd.

During W.W.II., with the demand for motor, aircraft and marine instruments for the war effort, Smiths' production expanded yet again. In 1944 the name of the parent company was changed to S. Smith & Sons (England) Ltd. and new subsidiary companies were set up: Smiths Motor Accessories Ltd., Smiths Aircraft Instruments Ltd., and Smiths Industrial Instruments Ltd. Around 1955, Smiths English Clocks Ltd. changed its name to Smiths Clocks and Watches Ltd.

Business grew rapidly after the war with the total sales increasing from £7m in 1945 to £40m in 1962. The company changed its name from S. Smith & Sons (England) Ltd. to Smiths Industries Ltd in 1966. In 1979 the production of Smiths watches and clocks for the domestic market ended and in 1983 the automotive instruments division was sold. In 2000 Smiths Industries merged with TI Group to form Smiths Group plc.

For more information on Smiths, please click on the link below:

Smiths

Inventory No. M-135

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