On the letterhead of one of Rafael Garín's invoices — one of which is preserved in the Banco de España's archive — he styles himself the successor to Max Schnabel, an originally German clockmaker who founded a workshop in 1840. He specialised in making precision timepieces and supplied instruments to the Astronomical Observatory. However, the signature on this table clock has faded to the point of being barely legible.

Garín was also the Madrid representative of London clockmaker David Glasgow and took charge of the work of installing the clock the bank purchased from Glasgow in the clocktower of its head offices.

The case of this clock is in black marble. Sinuous lines running along the base and on either side of the clock face bring a certain sense of movement to the otherwise rectangular outline. There is a protruding moulding around the base.

The dial is in white porcelain, surrounded by a gilded bronze frame decorated with egg and dart ornamentation and plant motifs. The hours are indicated in black polychrome Roman numerals, with segments for the minute hand. The anchor type escapement mechanism is visible and contains two ruby studs. Breguet-type patinated metal hands. Two winding holes and arbours protected by gilded bronze rings. Maker's name displayed below the shaft with the hands: R. GARIN / Sucor de A (?) Wilniez / MADRID. Glazed door protecting the dial with gilded bronze pearl moulding.

French Paris-type movement. The gear train has a spring-driven motor that keeps the clock running for eight days. Anchor-type escapement and pendulum. Chimes on the hour and half-hour. Glazed door to prevent dust getting into the mechanism.

Most of these clocks, also known as pendules bornes, were manufactured in France, especially during the reign of Napoleon III.

The first makers of this type of clock were two members of the Brocot family, Antoine-Gabriel and Louis-Achilles. In their pursuit of the perfect timepiece, they constantly invented and developed new suspension systems, escapements, calendars and chimes throughout the nineteenth century. They were skilled marketers and created an internationally recognised brand that was widely imitated. They obtained several patents to manufacture visible escapements and perpetual calendars. Their clocks were widely imitated. This example has a visible escapement that is very similar to that marketed by Louis-Achille Brocot from 1842 on.

Amelia Aranda Huete