19th Century French Clockmakers

arrowsmithantiques
Jul 26, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jun 26, 2025

This blog post discusses various French clockmakers of the 19th century, ranging from Japy Freres to Leroy et Fils, and looks at how Achille Brocot's inventions changed timekeeping.

an antique French 19th century clock movement showing the cogs and Brocot adjustment

In 19th-century France, notable clockmakers producing high-quality movements were Japy Freres, Samuel Marti, Vincenti, A.D Mougin, Leroy et Fils, and Achille Brocot.

The French clock movement is considered a very good time keeping instrument, which became even more accurate with an invention from Achille Brocot, known as the Brocot adjustment.

The invention of the Brocot adjustment and how it made time keeping easier.

Louis Achille Brocot was a French clockmaker and mathematician born in 1817 who invented the Brocot escapement and Brocot suspension. The Brocot suspension allowed the clocks time to be regulated by altering the length of the suspension spring which the pendulum hooks on to, by turning a small key which fits above the number 12 on the clocks dial. It was a more precise time keeping invention which allowed the clocks time to be adjusted easily without the need for adjusting the pendulum. Lowering the pendulum slowed the clock down and raising the pendulum speeded it up.

a French antique clock movement by Achille Brocot

The image above shows the Brocot adjuster along with the A.B stamp for Achille Brocot.

This invention was patented and can be seen in many other French clockmakers movements from the mid 19th century onwards.

Left - Shows the Brocot suspension in the movement

Middle - Shows the Brocot adjustment on the dial (above number 12)

Right - French four glass and champleve mantel clock, circa 1870

Who were the clockmakers Japy Freres?

Frederic Japy was born in 1749 and industrialised the manufacturing of clock movements. He set up a clock making business in 1771 before his sons took over after his death in 1812 and rebranded as Japy Freres et Cie. A factory in Beaucourt was opened where manufacturing of the clock movements and assembly took place, machines made by themselves helped manufacture clock movements on a larger scale. Japy Freres exhibited their work and won numerous gold medals and became one of the most successful French clockmakers of the 19th century.

Left - French bronze gilt and porcelain mantel clock by Japy Freres, circa - 1870

Middle - French Rococo style bronze mantel clock by Japy Freres, circa - 1890

Left - French Rococo style black slate and bronze gilt mantel clock by Japy Freres, circa - 1880

Leroy et Fils and their royal connection

Leroy et Fils was founded in 1785 by Basile Charles Le Roy. The company became the clockmakers to Napoleon I, Princess Pauline and the Duke of Bourbon. They had retail outlets in both Paris and London, and under Queen Victoria they were the only foreign clock makers that had the British royal warrant.

Left - French clock movement stamped Leroy et Fils which is an eight day duration striking the hours and half hours on a bell with outside count wheel.

Middle - The dial also has the makers name along with Brocot adjustment

Right - French bronze gilt mantel clock with classical female figure, circa - 1870

How to identify which clockmaker made a movement

French clock movements typically feature a maker's stamp. This stamp is commonly imprinted on the brass back plate, positioned behind the bell or gong, displaying the maker's name, a date, and an exhibition medal.

Not all French clock movement back plates were stamped with the makers name as some importers and retailers did not want the makers name on the clock they were selling. The makers stamp might be out of view and inside the movement which can only be seen if the movement is disassembled. Sometimes the retailer also had their name stamped on the back plate or it featured on the clocks dial.