Types of Antique Clocks: The Bracket Clocks

From hundreds to thousands of dollars, the price range of antique clocks varies depending on the type, function, age and history. Antique clock collectors rarely confine themselves to collection one type of clock or clocks within a certain time period. Clock collections usually range from different times, different types, companies, size and shapes. One of the more popular antique clock time pieces is called the bracket clock.

Bracket clocks can be traced to the 17th and 18th century, making them truly valuable to the clock collectors. It is an antique, portable clock, which is weight-driven and had to be mounted on a bracket on the wall to support their hanging weight, hence the name suggests. The earlier versions were smaller and were rightly termed as “true bracket clocks” by more meticulous clock aficionados.

A bracket clock would often be a matching ensemble of two individual pieces: the clock itself, and a decorative shelf to match. Bracket clocks are generally made of wood, mostly ebony, and often went alongside with some ormolu mounts, wood or tortoise shell, brass inlay and decorative varnish. These clocks were widely known to be repeaters- that is, you can pull down a lever or cord to make it tell you the time through the striking of the hours.

Bracket clocks were famous for being night-time tellers because it specifically tells the time at night with just a pull of its cord. This was before any type of illumination could be built in to clocks to read the time in the dark. The hourly striking, however, was believed to disturb sleepers during the night, so “silent pull repeaters” were also made to silence its sound by the pull of a cord. These classic time pieces were commonplace at that time but were quite expensive. The clocks were also equipped with a handle for convenient transfer from room to room.

Nowadays, bracket clocks have been made with modernized versions. But the antique pieces remain quite expensive. The look may have slightly changed but its function and value hasn’t also, it is still widely available in the market so it’s very easy to find one for your self. Check out our indexed eBay store for the best price and selection of Antique Bracket Clocks.