Antique bracket clocks

 An early 19th Century eight day rosewood bracket clock by Bryson - Edinburgh.  The arch top and brass bezel, encloses a silvered dial and time indicated by blued steel hands.  The mechanism is expertly made and built to last using 5 spoked wheelwork throughout.  The escapement is of very fine dead beat recoil hybrid construction.
Robert Bryson was a widely respected clock, watch & chronometer maker in Edinburgh, starting business in 1808 and amongst his many achievements, a Sidereal clock was made for Calton hill Observatory.  Robert Bryson contributed to the founding of Heriot Watt University.

He Brought both of his sons into the business at around 1850 and moved premises, trading on Princes Street.  The family enjoyed success in both horological and scientific advances throughout much of the 19th Century and laterally was absorbed into the firm of Hamilton & Inches.  

Price:£5800

BRYSON, ROBERT, F.R.S.E. 66 Princes Street, Edinburgh, 1810-52.

"Commenced business first at the Mint, High Street, Edinburgh, 1810; did not become a member of the Hammermen's Incorporation till 1815, when the entry money and other dues amounted to £70, which he paid. That same year he issued the following advertisement : —

"Robert Bryson, Clock and Watch Maker, announces to his friends and the public that he has removed from the Mint to that commodious house, No. 5 South Bridge Street, opposite to Hunter's Square, where he will be happy to see those friends who so liberally patronised him at the Mint." — Edinburgh Evening Courant, 6th June 1815.

This South Bridge place of business he tenanted till 1840, and while there he became closely allied with Mr Horner in the foundation of the Watt College, now known as the Heriot-Watt College, an institution which to-day occupies a foremost place in technical education. That this College was a matter congenial to his tastes, is easily seen in the trouble he took to ensure its success. Early advertisements show that he made his place of business an office for enrolling students, and from his self-sacrificing labours undoubtedly contributed largely to put the institution in a satisfactory condition.

Removing to 66 Princes Street in 1840, he continued to turn out work of the highest class. A number of his clocks and watches are in existence yet, particularly a splendid sidereal clock which he made in 1832 for the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.1 This clock was used by the late Professor Henderson for all his observations

For these particulars I am indebted to the late Professor Copland, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill.  on Calton Hill, arid afterwards by the late C. Piazzi Smyth for the same purpose up to 1855, being only superseded by the gift of a new sidereal clock made by Dent of London. This clock by Bryson became the property of the city of Edinburgh in 1895 and is still in use.

He became a member of the Royal Society of Arts, Edinburgh, and his first printed communication in the Transactions of that body, as far as we can glean, was read on the I2th December 1842. It was a description, with a drawing of the apparatus invented by him, for turning on and shutting off the gas which illuminated his translucent dial. The Society's Honorary Silver Medal was awarded him for this paper.

He died on 8th August 1852, aged 74 years, and was interred in the New Calton Burying Ground, Edinburgh, where it is recorded on a large and handsome monument that he was for a period of nearly fifty years watchmaker in Edinburgh. He was succeeded by his two sons, Alexander and Robert, the firm being known as Robert Bryson & Sons.

We have not succeeded in getting the exact year when the copartnery was entered into, but doubtless long before the senior partner's death in 1852 these two talented men were closely associated with their father.

 ---- references: "Old Scottish clockmakers 1453 - 1850" by John Smith page 69 ----