GIANT electric clocks by JAZ S.A, France

Compagnie Industrielle de Mechanique Horlogere-Paris (or JAZ S.A), France

A pair of monumentally large electrically-operated display alarm clocks, firstly the ‘Replic’ design of 1920, with alarm dial, deep chrome surround and pierced hour and minute hand. With removable back, complete with oversized faux winders. With metal plate fixed to the stand reading ‘Proprieté de C.I.M.H, 64 bis, Rue de Boetie PARIS, no. 29’. French, circa 1920.

Height: 22 inches (56 cm), diameter of face: 18 inches (46 cm).

REFERENCE: 6114
Price Code: £££

A later design with cream and pale-blue face, with gilded surround, and pierced hour and minute hands, and red enameled second hand and gilded Roman numerals. With metal plate fixed to the stand reading ‘Propriete de JAZ S.A rue 64 bis, Rue de Boetie PARIS, no.123’. French, circa mid-1950s.

Height: 22 inches (56 cm), diameter of face: 18 inches (46 cm).

REFERENCE: 6115
Price Code: £££

Founded by a small group of French engineers in 1919, JAZ was born from an idea following the First World War, that there was a lucrative and untapped market for well-designed and stylish alarm clocks, an essential element to getting the industrial workforce to their places of work on time. Their first model, the Classic was released in 1921.

A much more melodic alarm bell compared to other clocks on the market, the luminous-faced Classic ‘L’ that closely followed sold 10,000 models in the first year, making it a massive commercial success. In 1957, JAZ had sold its 20 millionth clock, and more than a million timepieces were made by the company each year, making it the largest clock manufacturer in France.

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