A Victorian cast iron and brass hour-striking turret clock movement W.J. Thompson, Ashford, circa 1870 The decorative pierced break-arch frame incorporating fan-light design to upper section and decorative turned brass bushes to the pivot holes united by four double-screwed columnar pillars and a brass top beam enclosing four-wheel trains with six-spoke wheel crossings, internal rack striking mechanism now sounding on a small bell set above the train, maintaining power, and deadbeat escapement with adjustable pallets and fine beat crutch adjustment for regulation by long pendulum, the front with winding squares, twin vane fly and brass Arabic five-minute setting dial inscribed W.J THOMPSON, ASHFORD, the rear with wide-jaw pendulum suspension bracket, bevel-gear assembly, yoke and short dial take-off work now driving a six inch white enamel Roman numeral dial inscribed G. KENT LTD, LONDON & LUTON to centre set on a post, along with motionwork, to the apex of the frame, with two sets of weights and lines and mounted on a later green painted wood display stand, the frame 51cm (20ins) high; total height (including stand, frame and dial), 204cm (85.75ins approx.) overall. William James Thompson is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers & Watchmakers of the World, Volume 2, as working in Ashford, Kent in 1874. George Kent Limited were manufacturers of specialist metering equipment who were first established at 199-201, High Holborn, London by George Kent. Initially traded as manufacturers and retailers of domestic equipment but expanded to produce early refrigerators and machinery such as knife sharpeners. In 1907 the business became a limited Company and set-up a factory in Luton the following year adding the manufacturing of specialist metering equipment to their diverse range of operations. During WWI the factory was re-purposed for the war effort and in 1921 the business merged with J. Blakeborough and Sons to form 'George Kent Ltd and J. Blakeborough and Sons Ltd'. The firm subsequently went on to acquire other related businesses (including Cambridge Instrument Co. in 1968) to become the largest British manufacturer of industrial Instruments. George Kent Limited were finally acquired by the Swiss conglomerate, Brown Boveri & Co., in 1974 with their various divisions subsequently re-organised and combined to create a series of leading specialist manufacturers in industrial, scientific and medical instrumentation.