Search the collections
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 11 - 20) 801 items
-
Sundial - Portable Compass
Pocket sundial with compass. Graduated for the southern hemisphere.
Images: 1 -
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 -
Sundial Replica - Bury St Edmonds, England
Replica horizontal sundial. Marked 'Time and Tide Wait for No Man' and 'Bury St. Edmonds 1618'. However it is not evident that this an actual replica of a sundial at Bury St Edmonds, ...
Images: 3 -
Sundial - Diptych, Leonhart Miller, Augsburg, Germany, 1640
Ivory diptych sundial, made by Leonhart Miller, Augsburg, Germany, 1640. The thin thread serves as the gnomon for the horizontal dial. The angle of the thread can be adjusted to 42, 45 ...
Images: 5 -
Sundial - Equatorial, Johann Schrettegger, Augsburg, Germany, circa 1820
Octagonal brass equatorial sundial, made by Johann Nepomuk Schrettegger (1764-1843), Augsburg, Germany, circa 1820.
Images: 5 -
Sundial - Horizontal Cannon, circa 1850
Horizontal sundial with cannon that is fired at noon by the sun's rays, made in the mid 19th century.
Images: 2 -
Sunclock - William Ernest Cooke, Sydney, New South Wales, circa 1922
Sunclock or heliochronometer, designed and made by William Ernest Cooke, Government Astronomer of New South Wales, about 1922. The sunclock allowed quite accurate reading of the time t ...
Images: 2
