Beautiful Vintage (1970s) Heavy English Metamec Quartz Brass Carriage / Mantle Clock (5”x3.5”x2.5”, 750g).

Lovely traditional brass carriage / mantle clock with a superb handcrafted and hand carved face. Lovely weight and feel. Please browse all 12 sets of photographs attached for size and condition as they are self explanatory.

Dimensions:

Height 5”/12cm (6”/15cm with handle)

Width 3.5”/9cm

Depth 2.5”/6cm

Weight: just over 750g

The clock is vintage and over 50 years old but in good condition commensurate with age. Parts of the brass is 24ct gold plated and there are signs of use here and there but generally in excellent condition.

The esteemed Metamec company was a renowned manufacturer of domestic clocks in the second half of the 20th century, and was based in Dereham, Norfolk, England. The name "Metamec" is derived from "metal-work and mechanics". The company started as an offshoot of the furniture manufacturers Jentique in about 1941, which made boxes for instruments and bombs during World War II.

The first Metamec model was a mains-powered mantle clock numbered "701" (approx. 1947). All clocks produced by Metamec were produced to a very high standard, and the factory expanded with the purchase of new machines to allow them to create their own movements, rather than import the movements in from other clock companies. The factory increased in size during the 1960s and 70s, and employed approx 750 people, producing 350 models of clock, and producing 25,000 clocks per week. They became a manufacturer of the now iconic large 'Sunburst' chrome, teak and brass clocks. Metamec was the largest clock manufacturer in the UK at the time.

Sadly the business declined in the late 1980s due to being penetrated by the German clock industry and imports from the Far East. Metamec went into receivership in December 1984 and was purchased in January 1985 by FKI of Halifax, West Yorkshire, who continued to use the name until 1993. The Metamec site in East Dereham was run by Ross Consumer Electronics (RCE) until the closure in 1994. Production was moved to the RCE site near Southampton.

The name "Metamec" is still in use today and a clock manufacturer is producing clocks under the Metamec name in Derbyshire, England.