A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY FUSEE DIAL TRAIN STATION WALL TIMEPIECE THWAITES AND REED, LONDON, FOR THE NORTH LONDON RAILWAY, CIRCA 1879The rectangular four columnar pillar single chain fusee movement with anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum and stamped T R for Thwaites and Reed over serial number 14427 to front plate, the 12 inch cream painted Roman numeral dial signed THWAITES & REED, CLERKENWELL beneath inscription N.L.R'Y. to centre and with steel spade hands (the rear also inscribed in pencil L.M.S.R., 13689), set behind hinged bevel-glazed caddy-moulded cast brass bezel incorporating canted insert to interior, with caddy-turned dial surround secured with pegs to the rear box case incorporating doors to both sides, the lower left hand side panel stamped N.L.R'Y and the backboard 13689, the curved underside incorporating pendulum access flap.37cm (14.5ins) diameter, 15cm (6ins) deep.John Thwaites was the son of Ainsworth Thwaites who was apprenticed in 1735 and worked from Rosoman Row, Clerkenwell, London 1751-80. He was an accomplished maker who supplied the clock for the tower at the Horse Guards Parade. John Thwaites was born in 1757 and took over the business presumably on the death of his father in 1780 before moving to Bowling Green Lane. In 1808 John Thwaites entered into partnership with George Jeremiah Reed which continued under John Thwaite's leadership from several addresses in London until his death in 1842. The business subsequently passed through a series of successors and is still trading today from Rottingdean near Brighton. John Thwaites, both whilst working alone or in partnership with George Reed, became well known for supplying all forms of clocks and movements either wholesale for others to retail, or signed by him/themselves. Approximate dates of manufacture for clocks by Thwaites can be obtained from a list published in Rose, Ronald E. ENGLISH DIAL CLOCKS, (as Appendix III, page 239). From this list a date of around 1879 is suggested for the current lot.The North London Railway was established around 1850 with lines connecting the northern suburbs of London with the East and West India Docks using the route now utilised for much of the overground stretch of the London Overground's North London Line; other disused N.L.R. lines have also been revived as part of the Docklands Light Railway. In 1909 management of the line was merged with that of the London and North Western Railway with both subsequently becoming part of the L.M.S. network in 1923.