CLOCK, MANTEL - PRESENTED TO MR. S.L. ROBERTS

Mr Stanley 'Stan' Leigh Roberts was working for the Western Australian Government Railway (W.A.G.R.) when he moved to Kelmscott in c1905. Stan Roberts was an engineer and has started working for the W.A.G.R in the 1890s as a surveyor. Between 1896 and 1901 he worked in Geraldton before returning to Perth and working in the Chief Civil Engineers Office where for the next 36 years he held the position of Custodian of Plans. During his career Stan was the honorary-secretary of the Railway and Tramway Institute (1901-1902), Chairman of the Library and Literary Committee and in 1927 was made a life member of the Institute. In 1937 it was announced that Stan would be retiring from the W.A.G.R. on 11 August.
Stan Roberts purchased a property in Kelmscott in c1905 that included an orchard. He and Cathleen his wife moved to the area and they raised their three daughters, Eileen, Grace and Joy. He quickly became a part of the community when in 1905 he was the secretary of the Kelmscott Progress Society. In 1922 Stan was the inaugural president of the Kelmscott Tennis Club. Following his retirement he was elected as President of the Kelmscott Agricultural Society and played a big role in keeping the show going during World War II. This effort saw him gain life membership of the society in 1946.
Stan died age 83 in 1959 and he was buried at the St Mary's In The Valley Anglican church cemetery.
The mantel clock is a classic Napoleon hat, or tambour-style, mantel clock, popular from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. It has the words “Chime” and “Silent” above the 12 on the clock face, which indicates that it originally had a chime/silent level, a common feature in Westminster chime clocks. The clock has a metal bezel with a convex glass face and a silvered chapter ring.
The clocks mechanism is absent, and there are no maker’s marks visible on the dial or casing of the clock. It is possibly of British or German manufacture, given the period and features of the clock. It is likely made by one of the major British or German companies. The chime/silent feature and case style are particularly consistent with German manufacturers, especially Junghans or HAC.
There is no definitive manufacturer identifiable, especially without the movement. However, the styling, chime/silent feature, and plaque date suggest it’s a mid-20th century German or British mantel clock, likely imported and presented in Australia in 1937.