Large Mid Century Copper Cased Factory Slave Clock by Gent of Leicester
IG222098
A large and visually compelling mid century copper cased slave clock by Gent of Leicester — a format rarely encountered in this condition, and one of the more materially distinctive examples of British institutional timekeeping to come to market. Where most surviving Gent factory clocks present in pressed steel or Bakelite, this example is housed in a substantial spun copper drum that has developed a rich, complex natural verdigris patination over decades of working life — a surface of considerable beauty that no restoration could replicate.
The Clock
The case is the immediate draw — a deep-profile spun copper drum of generous proportion, the metal surface carrying a full natural patina ranging from warm reddish-brown copper through deep bronze tones to vivid blue-green verdigris, the colour variation shifting across the curve of the case with the quality of aged architectural metalwork. A single brass access pin sits at the twelve o’clock position on the case edge, original and intact. The overall profile is bold and purposeful — a working object of real material presence.
The dial is a warm cream painted metal face carrying bold black Arabic numerals in the rounded sans-serif typeface used across Gent’s mid-century production range. The minute track is a clean arrangement of short dash markers with dot indicators at the five-minute positions, the whole printed on the cream ground with crisp legibility. The GENTS’ OF LEICESTER maker’s mark sits centrally below six o’clock in the period serif-and-sans typography of the range, with MADE IN ENGLAND printed in smaller type immediately below — a detail confirming British manufacture and useful for export documentation. The dial is retained behind its original glass lens, which contributes a warm reflective quality to the face under certain light conditions.
The hands are a particularly strong detail — a matched pair in the distinctive Gent mid-century format: the hour hand a broad arrow form with a stepped profile, the minute hand a long tapered spear terminating in a sharp arrowhead point, and the counterbalance a compact star or bat-wing form at the tail. Both are finished in matte black, original and complete.
Gent of Leicester
Gent & Co. Ltd of Leicester were one of Britain’s principal manufacturers of public and institutional timekeeping systems, supplying master and slave clock installations to railway stations, hospitals, factories, schools and civic buildings across the UK and Commonwealth from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Their slave clocks — driven by regular electrical impulses from a central master clock — were the standard solution for consistent timekeeping across large industrial and institutional sites. The copper-cased format was produced for environments where the material quality of the fitting was considered alongside its function — a step above standard pressed steel production.
Power
As a slave clock, this piece is offered for display or conversion to independent battery or mains operation with a suitable replacement movement. Please enquire regarding conversion options.
Ideal For
- Industrial, factory and mid century modern interiors
- Large commercial, retail and hospitality spaces
- Restaurants and bars seeking bold material character
- Architectural and interior design projects where patinated copper is a material theme
- Statement residential installations
Technical Specification
Maker
Gent & Co. Ltd, Leicester, England
Type
Factory slave clock
Origin
England (MADE IN ENGLAND — dial marked)
Era
Mid twentieth century, circa 1940s–1960s
Stock No.
IG222098
Dial Diameter
457mm (18")
Overall Diameter
483mm (19")
Depth
76mm (3")
Weight
To be confirmed — please enquire
Case
Spun copper drum · Full natural verdigris patination · Original brass access pin
Dial
Cream painted metal · Bold black Arabic numerals · Original glass lens retained
Hands
Original matte black arrow and spear form with star counterbalance
Power
Offered for display or battery/mains conversion — please enquire
UK Export HS Code
9105 21 00
Condition
Very good condition for age. Case structurally sound with exceptional natural patination — copper, bronze and verdigris tones throughout. Dial intact with original glass. Original hands complete. Honest surface wear consistent with working factory use.
Shipping
Worldwide shipping available — please enquire for a quote. All shipments are fully insured through Secursus.
