UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO SMITH OF CLERKENWELL OR EVANS OF HANDSWORTH. CIRCA 1860

It is not unusual for Victorian skeleton clocks, even of the quality of the present example, to be unsigned. By this time many makers had stopped signing their clocks and Derek Roberts (British Skeleton Clocks, Antique Collectors' Club, 1987, p.127) suggests that Evans of Handsworth probably put his name to only 5 of his output and that Smith signed even less. By the second half of the 19th century retailers were in the ascendancy and often insisted on clocks carrying their names. However, between them these two makers probably produced more skeleton clocks than all the other makers put together.
Distinguishing clocks made by these different makers is not easy. Indeed, Roberts points out that at least three clocks signed by Smith were made by Evans (op. cit, p.128), suggesting that they sold each other's products.
Evans' clocks tend to be more substantial than those Smith's, with thicker plates and chapter rings (as with the present clock). However, the majority of Evans' clocks have wheels with six crossings, as against Smith's four or five; this clock has wheels with four crossings. Evans used an hour wheel with of 2in. diameter, and Smith's were 1½in.; the present clock's hour wheel is approximately 1 5/8in. diameter. Evans' clocks generally have hatchet-shaped bell hammers as on this clock, whilst Smith's used halberd hammer heads.