A SWISS LACQUERED BRASS CALENDAR CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH PUSH-BUTTON REPEAT MOONPHASE AND ALARML'EPEE, DELEMONT, FOR RETAIL BY MATTHEW NORMAN, LONDON, LATE 20th CENTURYThe eight-day two train gilt eleven-jewel movement striking the hours on a coiled gong and with alarm sounding on the same gong, the going train with gilt platform lever escapement regulated b sprung monometallic balance, the backplate inscribed 11 Eleven Jewels, Unadjusted, Swiss Made over Matthew Norman, London, 1781 to centre, the rectangular white Roman numeral dial with rolling moonphase annotated for the lunar month to upper margin and retail signature MATTHEW NORMAN to the textured centre, with blued steel moon hands over central subsidiary alarm dial flanked by day-of-the-week and date-of-the-month calendar dials, the corniche type case with hinged carrying handle over rectangular top glass, cavetto cornice and caddy-moulded uprights, on conforming skirt base with rounded angles.14.5cm (5.75ins) high with handle down, 10cm (4ins) wide, 8.5cm (3.375ins) deep.The Swiss clockmaking firm L'Epee was established in 1839 by Auguste L'Epee as a manufacturer of musical boxes and horological products. During the 1850's L'Epee specialised in the production of platform escapements and obtained many patents for refinements such as 'anti-knocking' and 'auto-starting' as well as for a design of constant force escapement. In 1889 the firm had expanded to the extent that 200,000 escapements were sold that year they were also awarded numerous gold medals at various international exhibitions for their work including Paris 1889 and 1900, Vienna 1892 and Hanoi 1902. During the 20th century L'Epee diversified to supply precision timing instruments for industry. L'Epee re-entered the 'luxury' market in the mid 1970's launching a range of carriage and other small timepieces as well as supplying Concorde with cabin clocks. In 1994 they revealed the 'Giant Regulator' which, measuring 2.2 metres high and weighing 1.2 tons, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest timepiece in the world. In 2008 L'Epee was became part of Swiza SA and continues to produce high quality classic carriage clocks and contemporary timepieces (many of which contain complications such as Perpetual calendars and tourbillons) to this day.