At the start of the century up to about 1930 most clock cases were made to look like a traditional clock case even though the design had probably been simplified so that it could be easily made by machine.

Even the first synchronous clocks followed this pattern.

Sometime during the early part of the century "centre-fixing" was developed. This was made possible by the small size of the new movements, whether mains, battery or plain old clockwork, which enabled a single fixing screw concentric with the hand arbors, to carry the weight of the movement.

Once centre-fixing became the norm and designers were freed from the constraints of making a case or box for each particular movement, they found new ways of presenting the clocks, mostly as an attachment to some sort of flat slab or panel which would fit on the then fashionable tile slab fireplace, or hang on the wall (which became popular when it was no longer necessary to wind the clock weekly).

Clock movements themselves were made as small neat units (sometimes called capsules) protected by a small cover of metal, bakelite or other plastic to keep out dust and dirt.

Casework was simplified because the same case style could be used for all three types of clock so, for example, you can find a Metamec case with a synch movement and an identical Metamec case with a battery movement.

These movements were often unmarked so that they could be sold to other 'makers' who put together timepieces, but who did not actually make their own movements. This makes identifying the maker quite difficult at times and certainly the name on the dial is no indication.

Sometimes movements were even sold to competitors. For example it is not uncommon to find a Metamec clock with a Smiths, Kienzle or Junghans movement inside.

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