Swiss fire gilded grande sonnerie repeating coach clock Circa 1790

Repeater with self-strike and alarm by Robert et Courvoisier
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A large Swiss fire gilded brass open faced grande sonnerie hour and quarter-hour repeating coach clock with quarter-hour self-strike and alarm, circa 1790. Full plate movement, chain and fusee for the going train, three barrels for alarm and striking train, four hammers and one bell, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance. White enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic five-minute numerals. The case back is covered with tortoiseshell, sound holes. Cuvette signed, monogrammed and numbered, case numbered.
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Diameter: 122 mm
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Weight: 1300 g
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Signed: Robert et Courvoisier
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Robert & Courvoisier are clock and watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1795 as a successor to J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. In 1770 the firm was originally established by Josué Robert (1691–1771). After Robert’s death, a year after the company was founded, the firm was renamed Josué Robert & Fils and was led by his son Louis Benjamin Robert (1732–1781). They mainly produced large clockworks, but as Benjamin’s son-in-law, Louis Courvoisier became a companion, pocket watches were put into production. When Louis Benjamin died, Louis Courvoisier became the manager of the firm. From 1787 to 1795 the firm was called J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. From 1795 to 1805 it was renamed Robert & Courvoisier. Since 1805 the firm’s name was Robert, Courvoisier & Cie with Philip Grandjean as a business partner. In 1852 it became Courvoisier Frères. The firm continued under the direction of various members of the Courvoisier family until the 1930s. Along with the Jaquet-Droz firm, they were the most important makers of musical clocks and around the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, their portable officers’ watches were famous.