Product Description

Eureka electric shelf clock        SOLD

The Eureka Clock was designed by American engineer Timothy Powers in New York around the beginning of the 20th century. In 1906 the Kutnow Brothers took out a patent on the movement .

This Eureka electric shelf clock is from the golden Edwardian age; the age of Art Nouveau and new technology. The Ford Motor company had been founded in 1903 and Louis Beriot flew across the English Channel in 1909.

Manufacture of these clocks started in London around 1909 and ended in 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War. There were several  styles of case including the lancet type shown here, but it is reckoned less than 10,000 clocks were made. This may be due to the price of the clocks, average cost was 3 to 5 times the average weekly wage. This particular example is inscribed with the serial number 7456.

These clocks are designed to run on 1.5 volts DC and are mesmerising to watch in motion with their fantastic large balance wheel. This combined with their rarity makes any Eureka electric shelf clock highly desirable to collectors.

In Clock Repairing and Making, (1948) FJ Garrard gives the following, “The “Eureka” electric clock is a small compact mantel timepiece. It is operated by a “motor balance” that is, a large balance wheel made on the plan of a watch or chronometer compensation balance. The balance receives a magnetic impulse at each vibration, sufficient to maintain its vibrations and enable it to drive the train, which consists of a very few motion wheels only and takes very little power. So little is required that the batteries can be placed in the base of the clock making it complete in itself.”

This Eureka electric shelf clock is featured in the forum section of the Irish Horological Craft Forum.

Eureka electric shelf clock.