1947 Bentima Mantel Clock Stalham Norfolk NFU Provenance Fully Serviced
1947 Bentima Mantel Clock Stalham Norfolk NFU Provenance Fully Serviced
Meet Bertie — few mantel clocks arrive with both a maker's pedigree and a story of their own. This one has both.
A handsome original British-made Bentima mechanical mantel clock, precisely dated to 1947 by its engraved presentation plaque and retaining rare, documented Norfolk provenance. It is a piece with genuine social history behind it as well as fine period craftsmanship, the kind of combination collectors of British Art Deco clocks look for and rarely find together.
The clock is housed in a solid oak architectural case with a rounded, swept top and fluted detailing to the front corners of the stepped base, a hallmark of confident late Art Deco design. The dial has a warm oak centre set within a silvered chapter ring, stylised Arabic numerals and pierced hands, all framed by a chrome-plated bezel, and is signed by an applied winged Bentima badge, the maker's own emblem, at its centre.
The clock's engraved plaque records that it was presented by the Stalham branch of the National Farmers' Union to its long-serving secretary, in recognition of two decades of service to the Norfolk farming community:
THE STALHAM BRANCH OF THE N.F.U.
TO MR B. C. S. WRIGHT
IN APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES
AS SECRETARY FOR 21 YEARS
1947
The plaque is heavily patinated with silvering loss consistent with its age, though the inscription itself remains fully legible; see photographs for condition. This is far more than a maker's mark: it ties the clock to a named individual, a named institution and a precise year, a level of documented social history that very few surviving mantel clocks of this period can offer. The attribution is corroborated by a MADE IN ENGLAND mark printed on the dial and a BRITISH MADE stamp on the movement backplate.
The Maker: Bentima
Bentima was formed in 1925 by Elias Buerger, a Russian-born grain merchant turned London watch and clock importer, who had already invested in the Perivale Clock Manufacturing Company and went on to acquire S. Davall & Sons. Trading from Bury Street in the City of London with production centred on the Perivale works in Greenford, Middlesex, Bentima grew through the 1930s and 1940s into one of Britain's leading clock producers, exhibiting at the British Industries Fair in 1947, the same year this clock was presented, and going on to pioneer some of the earliest all-electric Westminster chime clocks in the following decade. A Bentima mantel clock of this period represents a genuinely significant slice of twentieth century British clockmaking, not a minor maker's piece.
The Movement
The clock is powered by a traditional two-train mechanical movement, stamped British Made on the backplate. It strikes the hours and half-hours on a coiled gong, producing a warm and characterful tone that suits its Norfolk history well.
The movement has been fully dismantled, cleaned, serviced and carefully reassembled, with Novostar oil applied to the mainsprings and synthetic clock oil to the pivots. It is now running correctly and the striking mechanism is operating exactly as intended, ready to take pride of place on a mantel or desk from the day it arrives.
Restoration Checklist
- Movement fully dismantled, cleaned and serviced
- Novostar oil applied to mainsprings; synthetic clock oil applied to pivots
- Striking mechanism tested and confirmed on the hour and half-hour
- Case sympathetically cleaned and revived
- Winding key included
Condition
The oak case has been sympathetically cleaned and revived rather than aggressively refinished, preserving its attractive colour, grain and period character.
The clock remains in good antique condition overall, with age-related marks and natural patination to the case, bezel, plaque and other fittings, together with some historic wear to the painted finish on the pendulum bob. These details are entirely consistent with a clock dating from 1947 and are clearly shown in the photographs.
The original hinged rear door remains present and sits snug, closing nicely, though its latch is no longer functioning. A suitable winding key will be supplied.
Dimensions
| Height | 23 cm (9 in) |
| Width | 28 cm (11 in) |
| Depth | 14 cm (5.5 in) |
Delivery
The clock will be carefully packed for transit, with the pendulum removed and individually protected. Simple setup and operating instructions will be included.