Grandfather clock - Victorian giant Hall clock.

JB1273
A rare and exceptionally large and impressive tall case, or grandfather clock. The dial is signed: “The diamond merchants Alliance Ltd. 68 Piccadilly, London”. The finely carved mahogany case houses a complex 8 day movement which plays the tunes of Westminster or Wittington every ¼ hour on nine tubular bells. The clock face itself is spectacular with its gilt brass filigree decoration and silvered chapter ring, also a painted moon phase dial.

Circa 1899.

Case measures:

• 294cm (115 ¾”) High,
• 75cm (29 ½”) Wide,
• 53cm (20 ¾”) Deep.

Face measures:

• 39cm (15 ½”) wide,
• 52cm (20 ½”) high.
  

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The company that became Smiths started as a clock and watch business in 1851. A family business, it was founded by Samuel Smith, Senior (1826 – 1875) as S. Smith and Son. In 1873 Samuel Smith, Junior (1850 – 1932) opened larger premises on The Strand and later had shops in Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square in London.

The Diamond Merchants Alliance Co was formed by Samuel Smith in 1895.

Dr Paul Bodenstein, bought the clock in 1962.

At that stage the farm, Boschdal, belonged to Mrs Maude Edwards, the clock, however, was held in safekeeping at the Schoch home, on behalf of the previous owner of the farm.

House Schoch, Boschdal, District Rustenburg:

The building is the oldest existing dwelling in the immediate vicinity of Rustenburg. Designed in a neo-classical idiom, it was erected for William Robertson some time before 1874, when it was acquired by August Schoch. After the South African War, the farm Boschdal was used as a centre for the repatriation of displaced Dutch families. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 27 December 1985.

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