Fattorini & Sons with logo. Source: https://www.lukehoney.co.uk/
Technical Characteristics: Fattorini & Sons Chess Clock
- Name. Fattorini & Sons Chess Clock.
- Model. Fattorini Dials – with logo.
- Maker. Fattorini & Sons – Bradford.
- Date. 1887 – 1904.
- Country. United Kingdom.
- Mechanism. Pendulum mechanism.
- Material.Metal – wrought iron base.
- Measurements. Length 7.48 in – Width 5.12 in – Height 6.10 in.
- Weight. Unknown.
Description: Fattorini & Sons Chess Clock
The Fattorini & Sons chess clock is a pendular mechanical clock made by the watchmaking company Fattorini & Sons of Bradford, England between 1887 and 1904.
The chess clock is formed by a wrought iron rectangular base of great weight that gives stability to the set, where the brand of the manufacturer company ‘Fattorini & Sons, Bradford’ is printed. Above the base there is a rocker also made of wrought iron and on the rocker stand two twin clocks made of chromed metal. In this particular model, the clocks mount dials that include the Fattorini brand, the logo and some aesthetic Roman numerals. I noticed that it does not incorporate flags, due to they were not invented until 1889 by Hadebeëm Meijer, secretary of the Dutch Chess Federation.
Below the clocks pendulums can be seen that act as a mechanism for driving both clocks. In such a way that the clock that appears horizontally will be the one that is in operation thanks to the movement of its pendulum, when the player made his move he would tilt his clock that stopped and simultaneously that of the opponent was placed horizontally, starting to work thanks to your pendulum.
The Fattorini & sons chess clock began on sale in 1887, as you can see in an advertisement published in the British chess magazine ‘British Chess Magazine’ of 1897 (Volume XVII, No. 199), in which you can read: “These clocks are used in all the Masters’ International and National Tournaments, North versus South of England, and all important County and Club matches.”
The company Fattorini & Sons was a jewelry business established by a family of Italian immigrants headed by Antonio Fattorini. They arrived in the British city of Leeds, in Yorkshire, England in 1827. Antonio established a series of outlets specialized in jewelry, watches and other luxury items. At the beginning of the 19th century, Antonio Fattorini opened a store in Harrogate in 1831 to take advantage of seasonal trade. Today, this business is owned by the descendants of the founders. In the 1850s he opened a store in Bradford with two of his sons. In 1883 the company made the first chess clock comprising two linked pendulum clocks, in 1887 they manufactured this pendulum clock model.
Presence in Chess Tournaments
The chess clock Fattorini & sons has been used in tournaments and chess championships in the United Kingdom especially in the 1890s, we have no photographic record of any of them, if you have any images, we would be grateful if you would send them using the Contact Form.
Variations: Fattorini & Sons Chess Clock
Fattorini & Sons without logo
