A 19th century novelty desk compendium in the form of a davy lamp housing an eight day timepiece and aneroid barometer and a thermometer surmounted by a glazed cylindrical chamber with a compass mounted within. The extremely heavy brass case is supported on turned bun feet. This clock was designed in the 1890’s by André Romaine Guilmet.
André Romain Philéas Guilmet was an obsessive inventor who took out many patents for designs, both horological and others. It was Guilmet who in 1868, in collaboration with Edouard Meyer, first placed a driving chain on a bicycle, set below the seat to drive the rear wheels, and so produced the first bicycle powered in the method that is standard on all machines.
Guilmet is recorded as not just an horologer, but also a bijoutier (jeweller) and doreur (gilder). Under the entry for Doreurs in the 1861 almanach he is described thus: horologer, bijouterie, orfeverie argentes de la maison Christolfe, Fbg-St. Martin, 103 et 108; an horologer, jeweller and silversmith supplying the well-known Parisian jewellers and silversmiths, the Maison Christolfe; The additional entry under Horologers describing him as a clockmaker only. Guilmet was an active member of the Chambre Syndicale, along with A.H. Rodanet, Paul Garnier and other well-known horologists. (Derek Roberts).
p258, Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks, Derek Roberts 1999.
24cm H x 13cm W x 13cm D
A 19th century novelty desk compendium in the form of a davy lamp housing an eight day timepiece and aneroid barometer and a thermometer surmounted by a glazed cylindrical chamber with a compass mounted within. The extremely heavy brass case is supported on turned bun feet. This clock was designed in the 1890’s by André Romaine Guilmet.
André Romain Philéas Guilmet was an obsessive inventor who took out many patents for designs, both horological and others. It was Guilmet who in 1868, in collaboration with Edouard Meyer, first placed a driving chain on a bicycle, set below the seat to drive the rear wheels, and so produced the first bicycle powered in the method that is standard on all machines.
Guilmet is recorded as not just an horologer, but also a bijoutier (jeweller) and doreur (gilder). Under the entry for Doreurs in the 1861 almanach he is described thus: horologer, bijouterie, orfeverie argentes de la maison Christolfe, Fbg-St. Martin, 103 et 108; an horologer, jeweller and silversmith supplying the well-known Parisian jewellers and silversmiths, the Maison Christolfe; The additional entry under Horologers describing him as a clockmaker only. Guilmet was an active member of the Chambre Syndicale, along with A.H. Rodanet, Paul Garnier and other well-known horologists. (Derek Roberts).
p258, Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks, Derek Roberts 1999.
24cm H x 13cm W x 13cm D
