Large Vintage Illuminated 24-Hour Railway Clock by Gent of Leicester

Large Vintage Illuminated 24-Hour Railway Clock by Gent of Leicester IG221297 A rare and visually striking large-scale illuminated 24-hour railway clock by Gent of Leicester — one of Britain’s most respected manufacturers of institutional and industrial timekeeping systems. The dual 12/24-hour dial format and bold two-colour typography give this clock an exceptional graphic presence that transcends its working origins and makes it one of the more desirable examples of British institutional clock design to come to market. The Clock The dial is the defining feature of this piece — a back-illuminated opal glass panel of considerable graphic impact. The 12-hour numerals are printed in bold black in a confident, sans-serif typeface of the mid-twentieth century; the 24-hour numerals printed in a vivid orange of the same weight, sitting behind the primary numerals at a slightly smaller scale and creating a layered typographic depth that is unique to this format. The minute track runs as a clean ring of dashes and rectangular markers around the dial perimeter, with bold rectangular indicators at the five-minute positions. The GENT of LEICESTER mark is printed centrally below the six o’clock position in the restrained period typography used across the range. The black baton hands are substantial and precisely engineered for readability at distance — flat section, black finished, the minute hand running to the inner edge of the minute track. The case is a deep circular drum finished in gloss black, with a white inner bezel ring separating the dial from the case edge. The case carries original fixing lugs top and bottom — the standard Gent mounting arrangement — and the overall form is clean and unadorned, every element directed toward function. When illuminated, the dial transforms — the opal glass diffusing the back light evenly across the full face, the orange and black numerals reading with exceptional clarity and graphic force. Gent of Leicester Gent & Co. Ltd of Leicester were one of Britain’s principal manufacturers of public and institutional timekeeping systems from the mid-nineteenth century through to the latter decades of the twentieth. Their products — master clocks, slave clocks, turret clocks, and public-facing dial clocks — were specified across British railway stations, hospitals, factories, schools, government buildings and public spaces throughout the country. The 24-hour dial formatwas produced specifically for operational environments where 24-hour time notation was standard — railway operations centres, signal boxes, control rooms and similar settings where the distinction between AM and PM could not be left to ambiguity. Gent clocks remain among the most collectible of British institutional timepieces, and examples in good original condition with their original illuminated dials are increasingly difficult to find. Power & Control This clock is mains powered and back-illuminated. The lighting can be synchronised and controlled via app or remote control, offering full flexibility over brightness and illumination scheduling in a contemporary setting. Please enquire for further technical details. Ideal For Railway, industrial and infrastructure heritage interiors Large commercial, retail and hospitality spaces Restaurants and bars seeking bold graphic period character Creative studios and workspace environments Statement residential installations in double-height or open-plan spaces Control room and industrial aesthetic interiors Technical Specification Maker Gent & Co. Ltd, Leicester, England Type Illuminated 24-hour railway wall clock Origin England Era Mid twentieth century Stock No. IG221297 Dial Diameter 457mm (18") Overall Diameter 483mm (19") Depth 102mm (4") Weight To be confirmed — please enquire Dial Back-illuminated opal glass · Dual 12/24-hour format · Black 12-hour numerals · Orange 24-hour numerals Case Circular drum, gloss black finish with white inner bezel Power Mains powered Illumination Back-illuminated · Controllable via app or remote — please enquire Condition Original dial intact. Original case finish with honest age and wear consistent with working institutional use. Illumination system operational. Shipping Worldwide shipping available — please enquire for a quote. All shipments are fully insured through Secursus.