A small hook-and-spike weight-driven wall timepiece with alarm Whitehurst, Derby, circa 1840 The four pillar plated thirty-hour movement with anchor escapement, fifteen-inch pendulum and alarm mechanism with vertically pivoted hammer sounding on a bell mounted above the plates and stamped with serial number 5894 to backplate, the 6 inch circular brass dial signed WHITEHURST, DERBY to centre, with steel spade hands and brass alarm setting hand within Roman numeral chapter ring with narrow minute ring and dot quarter-hour markers to outer track, the movement fitted with sheet metal dust covers incorporating sliding side panels, the rear with hanging hoop and spurs, 18cm (7ins) high overall. John Whitehurst was born in Congleton, Cheshire in 1713, he was apprenticed as a clockmaker to his father (of the same name) before setting up business in Derby in 1736 - the same year he installed a turret clock to the newly completed Guildhall. He was an accomplished maker and scientist who had a particular interest in geology. He moved to London in 1780 in order to take up position at the Royal Mint as 'Stamper of the Money Weights' as well as pursue his scientific interests. He was founder member of the Lunar Society and was elected to the Royal Society in 1783. He died in 1788 leaving the Derby clockmaking business to his nephew also called John (II) who in-turn took his son of the same name into partnership in 1809. The firm traded as 'Whitehurst & Son' until 1834 when the business reverted to just 'Whitehurst' on the death of John (II). The business continued under the Whitehurst name until 1856 when it was passed onto John Smith and is still trading today as 'Smith of Derby'. The design of the current lot was devised by John Whitehurst in the late 18th century and continued to be made (albeit varying in detail) until around 1855 (the serial numbering system being implemented in 1809). The current lot dates to the last period of the firm (1834-56) but is faithfull to the earlier models in that it utilises a small brass dial rather than the larger white dials more often seen on the later examples.