Note: Photograph taken before restoration
A relatively early French carriage clock, contained in a cast brass case of a type seen at this period and with a shuttered cast brass rear door. The eight day duration movement has early style straight pillars, a platform cylinder escapement and strikes the hours and half hours on a bell with a repeat button to the top. The backplate is stamped 'Bolviller A Paris' within an oval and numbered '173 LM', the inside of the movement is stamped with the serial number '3057' along with the initials 'H.L.' being for the maker of the roulant blanc Henri Lemaille (see below for details). The majority of case parts are numbered '73'. The white enamel dial has black Roman numerals, fine blued steel 'moon' (or 'Brequet') hands and is signed 'Bolviller a Paris' below VI o'clock.
* Bolviller is recorded as working at various addresses in Paris starting at Rue Saint-Avoye in 1830, then Rue Charlot from 1840, Rue Vendome from 1850 until at least 1860 and was finally known to be at Rue Beranger in 1870. A number of good early clocks are known by him including a singing bird automata example and others similar to those made by Paul Garnier. He took out a number of patents over the years including one for a form of dead beat escapement. For a period he worked alongside the maker Gontard taking out a patnet with him in 1848.
* Henri Lemaille was a maker of fine roulant blancs (being the blank movements made for other clockmaker's to finish and case). Many Drocourt carriage clocks can be found with Lemaille movements in them as can clocks by Leroy. It is quite possible that Bolviller's serial number on the backplate incorporates 'L M' for Lemaille.
Height: 5¾ inches (handle down): 7¼ inches (handle up)
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