Pictures

French "Bull's Eye" clock with Pinchon movement, circa 19th c.

This is a nice little French oeil de boeuf or "Bull's Eye" timepiece. It has an 8-day round time only brass movement of typical French design signed "PINCON FILIS AINÉ PARIS". The dial appears to be a painted or printed dial covered with a glass plate. The dial is held by three "hat-pin" retaining pins. The case is thick solid wood and there is a little trap door on the bottom that provides limited access to the pendulum. This time piece appears to be all original. There is no label or name anywhere except on the. movement.

The date of this timepiece and information about the maker have been elusive at best. Pinchon was known as a carriage clock maker but I have found a few examples of other clocks with the Pinchon name from around 1820. I have been told that "Fils Ainé means eldest son; so, perhaps this is the progeny of Pinchon the carriage clock maker"? I have also been told that Tardy's La Pendule Francaise lists "Vernon Pinchon, fils ainé, Rue Michel le Comte, Paris 1880" and that this timepiece may be "a plainer type of oeil de boeuf, designed as an office clock or similar".

Thanks to everyone on the NAWCC message board for helping provide information about this time piece.




Not for sale
(returned to owner after service)

The information on this page is believed to the writer to be correct at the date of posting but is presented with no guarantee expressed or implied. Pictures were a true representation of this clock at the time of posting but may not be current. Please contact me if you believe that any of the above information is incorrect, or if you wish to share additional information, or discuss this clock.

Unless otherwise credited, the pictures and information on this page are the property of Robert H Croswell & Greenfield Clock shop, 4180 Main Street, Trappe, MD 21673 and may not be sold or used for commercial purposes without permission. © 2016

email:  bobby@greenfieldclockshop.com