A thirty-hour ebonised fruitwood mantel calendar timepiece by Reid & Auld, Edinburgh, No. 1200, c. 1820

The chain fusee movement with verge escapement is protected by a signed and numbered (1200) brass cover with shuttered winding and regulating squares. The movement, also signed and numbered. The potence plate is typical of any pocket watch of the period, having a pierced and chased balance cock and silver regulation disc. The pillar plate is considerably larger in diameter and carries the motion work and four-inch enamel dial. The year calendar is indicated on the outside of the dial, enclosing the minutes track and inner hour, seconds and third subsidiary for moonphase and tidal indication.
The arched case is surmounted by a single turned brass finial on a pagoda pediment over brass lion’s head carrying handles and ring turned half columns with blind brass fishscale frets and gadrooned tops on a bow sided stepped base fitted with brass claw feet. The front panel with brass stringing and raised panel with central quatrefoil inlay.

Thomas Reid (1756-1831) born in Dysart, Fife was to become one of Scotland’s most celebrated clockmakers. Having completed an apprenticeship to Edinburgh watchmaker, James Cowan, in 1762 he went on to work in London for eleven years. At a time of very rapid advancement in the art of horology Reid accumulated knowledge and contacts that simply would not have been possible had he remained in Edinburgh. Upon the death of his former master he returned to Edinburgh to carry on the business. He took on his stepson, William Auld, as an apprentice who later became a partner in the business in 1806.