Details of this clock were sent to me by it's owner (J.E.) with permission to display them on my website for the enjoyment of other collectors.
The owner gave me the following information:
It is contained in a cylindrical brass case approximately 6 inches in diameter and about 6 inches long. The face has a conventional 12 hours dial and three subsidiary dials each with conventional large and small hands but graduated from 1 to 24. The face bears the legend "The Homing Pigeon Clock" and also "Turner`s Patent".
A carrying handle at the top is engraved with "Hateley`s Patent No14307/07" and what appears to be a serial number (3293) is stamped on the case and back cover as well as on the back plate of the movement.
Another view of the clock case
The circular back cover is removable giving access to the spring winder which is wound by a separate key.
The back cover carries a type of ratchet which appears to engage a pin-wheel at the rear of the movement which in turn drives a mechanical digital counter.
The whole instrument stands on four short legs riveted to the case, but curiously, two additional legs are riveted on one side of the case so that the whole thing may be tilted at an angle of 60 degrees or more, thus placing a rear-mounted small circular aperture at the top.
Comments by Barrie:
This is one of the clocks illustrated in A&R Shenton's book "Collectable Clocks"
For some time it was thought to be the first such clock but Shenton mentions that earlier patents have been noted. The patent is dated 1903. The clock is obsolete for racing purposes, but highly collectable.
Without having the clock "in hand" I cannot say how the timing function operated but in some such clocks paper dials can be fitted.
When the pigeons are released a lever is pressed marking the time by a pinprick in the paper dials.
When a bird returns a marker is removed from its leg and placed in a small container (thimble) which is dropped into the opening in the case. The lever is then pressed to mark the time and this action rotates a drum locking in the thimble and enabling another bird to be timed.
This timer is described in the Shentons' book (Ref CC 1996 ed) as a collectors piece.
