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Horology Collection
Image: Regulator clock (1865)
Source: Museum Victoria
The museum holds a significant collection of over 600 clocks and watches, dating from the 17th century to the present. It includes classic works in the history of timekeeping: a 1630s German table clock, beautiful watches by preeminent 18th century British and French makers, and accurate astronomical regulators. There are items of local historical significance, such as the No.1 clock of the Victorian Railways, installed in 1858, and common items, such as domestic alarm clocks.
Incredibly, this diverse collection resulted predominantly from the passions and generosity of two men, neither of whom were employed by the museum. Like several other museum collections, the horology collection owes its existence and breadth to a partnership between the museum and independent collectors in the community. Collector John Askew began lending clocks and watches to the museum from 1920, and donated much of the collection in 1941. Watchmaker Joseph Lowy began to actively lend and donate items from the late 1940s, and was appointed an honorary curator from 1953 to his death in 1979.
From 1952 the horological collection was displayed in full in a new set of showcases in Barry Gallery at the old museum building in Swanston Street. Visitors to the museum could explore a clear explanation of the history of timekeeping, from sundials to the latest electronic watch. Although the emphasis was on technical developments, many of the clocks and watches in the collection are beautiful examples of the decorative arts.
The current emphasis is on acquiring watches and clocks that have a Victorian and Australian historical significance or association.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 10) 908 items
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Regulator Clock - Charles Frodsham, London, No.1062, 1865
Eight day long-case astronomical regulator clock, by Charles Frodsham, London, No. 1062, 1865. Weight driven, with dead-beat escapement and mercury compensation pendulum. Used at Melbou ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 3 -
Solar Chronometer - Pilkington-Gibbs, Gibb's Heliochronometer, circa 1910
Helio-chronometer or universal sun dial, made by Pilkington-Gibbs in Preston, Lancashire and distributed by O. Nelson, London, England, circa 1910, Invented by George James Gibbs and pa ...
Images: 1 -
Sundial - Sunwatch, Ansonia Clock Co, New York, circa 1923
Horizontal pocket sundial, known as a sunwatch. Made by Ansonia Clock Co, New York, circa 1923. Designed for Australia and New Zealand, with three separate scales for latitudes 20, 30 a ...
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Sundial - Equatorial, Lorenz Grassl, Augsburg, Germany, circa 1750-1800
Equinoctial or equatorial sundial, made by Lorenz Grassl, Augsburg, Germany, circa 1750-1800. Brass dial in wooden case, with elevations for Naples, Rome, Ingolstadt, Strasburg. The gn ...
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Sundial Replica - Roman, circa 300 BC
Replica of a Roman hemicycle sundial, found at Civita Lavinia, near Rome, Italy, circa 300 BC. The sundial is a type said to have been invented by the Chaldean astronomer Berosus. Cop ...
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Sundial - Magnetic Azimuth, Jacques Senecal, Dieppe, France, circa 1660
Portable sundial made by Jacques Senecal, Dieppe, France, circa 1660.
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Sundial - Portable Compass
Pocket sundial with compass. Graduated for the southern hemisphere.
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Sundial - Compass, Kilpatrick & Co, London, circa 1925
Compass sundial, white plastic case and clear plastic dome, made by Kilpatrick & Co, London, circa 1925.
Images: 1
