This domestic hour-striking 'lantern' clock would originally have kept time using a balance-wheel underneath the bell on the top of the clock. It would have run for 18 hours with two separate weights (one to drive the timekeeping mechanism and one to drive the hour-striking), and would have had a verge escapement. It was at some stage converted to pendulum control using a long pendulum with anchor escapement, and later, to the present shorter pendulum.

It was common for balance-wheel domestic clocks to be converted to pendulum control, which was much more accurate. It still only has one hand (the hour-hand) as originally it would not have been accurate enough to warrant the inclusion of a minute-hand.