Jason Clarke Antiques

Description

An early twentieth century Art Deco period mahogany wall clock with eight day movement by Camerer Cuss & Co, 56 New Oxford Street, London.

The clock has a 12” dial with a pleasant crazing to the white ceramic face with roman numerals and Art Deco style lettering to the maker’s name. It has a square plate brass eight day movement with original key, pendulum and oak back box.

The firm Camerer Cuss & Co have a history dating back to the 1730’s where a Joseph Kammerer is considered to have been responsible for introducing the cuckoo clock to the Black Forest region in Germany. The partnership of Camerer & Cuss (originally Camerer, Kuss & Co) is more commonly understood to have begun in 1788 where they were further responsible for introducing Black Forest cuckoo clocks and musical clocks to the UK. After a number of incarnations the firm became Camerer, Kuss & Co in 1868 where they continued to trade as importers of German clocks and also makers of clocks in their own right.

In 1914 the name Kuss was anglicised to Cuss probably as a result of the First World War and the feeling towards Germany at that point, thereafter all clocks were named to “Camerer, Cuss & Co”. Thankfully, despite their German roots, the firm continued to flourish in the UK and numerous addresses are published for the company. The flagship store address of 522 Oxford Street was changed following reconstruction to 56 New Oxford Street where they remained until the 1980’s.

Terence Camerer Cuss was responsible for publishing two horology books “Antique Watches” & Early Watches”. He also published “Camerer Cuss & Co” in 1988, a bicentenary (1788 – 1988) book about the long established company.

Recently serviced, the clock is in good working order.