A Rye Fortress alarm novelty mantle clock, retailed by J.N. ...

Hammer

£55

A Rye Fortress alarm novelty mantle clock, retailed by J.N. Masters, Rye, Sussex, the architectural clock tower case with a Jughans movement, paper label to the door, 27cm.
John Neve Masters (1846-1928) advertised in the 1868 Sussex trade directory as trading as a watchmaker at 21 High Street, Rye, then in 1890 and 1891 as a watch and clock maker at 95 High Street, Rye. In 1899 as a watch and clock maker and also as a jeweller but the abbreviation changed to J. N. Masters Ltd. and this was used for the 1905 listing when he occupied numbers 8, 9 and 95 High Street, Rye. The 1911 and 1915 directories show the address as 8 and 9 High Street, Rye under watch and clock makers but no listing appears under jewellers.