Buy Antique Metronomes for Sale

Descriptions:

Please take the time to read an items description carefully before deciding on a purchase. We will try to list any mechanical faults as well as all cosmetic issues with each individual unit. If you are purchasing a metronome that will be used for an occasional practice aid we strongly suggest choosing a piece that operates as close as possible to 60 beats per minute. This generally means that the metronome will operate relatively accurately on all tempo settings down the scale. Inaccuracies on a units default beats per minute, shown below can be remedied by simply setting the pendulum weight to account for the +/- beat, i.e. if a metronome has a target tempo of 60bpm but operates at 64bpm, setting the pendulum weight to 56bpm ( slower tempo ) should result in 60 beats per minute.
It is quite common for units with a bell, to have operational issues on one of the four settings, if this is a problem it will be reflected in the metronomes description.
Metronomes sold on this website are NOT intended to be sold as accurate time keeping devices but as attractive collectible shelf or display items.
Hold your mouse pointer over a gallery image for an enhanced zoom, or click 'play' to listen to your selected metronome.

For Items M101 - M108, click here.
For Items M117 - M124, click here.

Paquet Coquille ( Shell Form ) Rosewood Metronome ( SOLD - Order Number - M109 )

Dating to around 1910 this lovely looking metronome is in a relatively scarce form called 'Coqulle' or 'Shellform'. It was manufactured by the French company, Paquet and they were kind enough to mark it with two serial numbers, this means that we are not only able to roughly date it to a production year ( serial 483,819 ) , but we can also provide the model type serial number giving a suggestion as to how many of this actual shell form of metronome had been produced. The hand written number is ( serial 736 ). It is in excellent condition, with only superficial scratches commensurate with age and still retains all of the original gloss clear lacquered topcoat. The Rosewood paneled case has been soaked and rounded to provide the shell form and takes a very clever process to maintain this shape without splitting the wood panels. This example shows no stress marks or splits whatsoever. It is extremely attractive externally, with fabulous Rosewood dark graining visible and a good original Paquet transfer type trademark symbol to the front that remains in excellent condition.
Inside the door, the tempo scale is the typical Paquet type that has darkened over time, this is mainly caused by exposure to coal fire, lamp oil and to a degree some handling wear, it does have a few modern scratches visible which does detract slightly, but really we are nit picking, it is still legible and differs from the standard tempo scale in that it reads " Forme Coquille Modele Depose " or " Shell Shape Model " and " Forme Coquille " to the lower third as well. The thick Rosewood base has suffered over the yeas having split on two occasions, we have reinforced internally one of the splits in order to resolve a visible crack externally, the other split appears stable and has been glued ( not by us ). The base is retained by 3 large screws, these have been covered with foam feet by us, which is the reason for no mechanism picture below, it does however have a typical Paquet mechanism that you can view on any other Paquet metronome on this website. These foam feet ensure that the screws, that do protrude slightly will not scratch a display surface and also provides a nice even base for the metronome. In order to access the mechanism compartment however, these foam feet do need to be removed and we will provide and additional 5 feet as replacement's or spares.
The winding key is a replacement and there is a small tiny veneer split around the winding key hole that has been reglued, this is very minor and hardly worth a mention. The mechanism is good, it can show some variation with the strength of the pendulum swing as the mainspring winds down but is generally good, well balanced and audible and providing 60 beats per minute for a total runtime of around 45 minutes. It is not the strongest mainspring however and does struggle on the last 15 minutes of runtime or on a very slow pendulum upper weight setting. Ideal as a collectable metronome or display and talking piece but should not be considered as a regular practice aid.
The rare style and shape of this metronome is reflected in our asking price, the performance is rather secondary in our opinion. It is hard enough to find this model anywhere is today's market, let alone a working example and one in such good condition. The low serial number of 736 hints at a production number of probably only around 1000 metronomes maximum from Paquet with the unit being the first of the type that we have ever offered for sale.

Beats per Min: 60 Operating Time: 45 Minutes

Qualit'e Excelsior Victorian Mahogany Metronome + BELL ( SOLD - Order Number - M110 )

Probably Victorian and dating to around the turn of the Century c1900, this metronome was manufactured by Qualit'e Excelsior in France. It appears to be Mahogany and although the exterior is showing wear, it does still have a full clear gloss topcoat or finish intact. There are several dings and light scratches to the wood, commensurate with age but nothing that majorly detracts and it actually display's itself very well, with a nice Golden antiqued exteriror appearance and darkened solid brass fittings that have turned almost black from years of handling.
It came to us needing a heavy clean and service to the mechanism. It was still working however, which is a sign of a good mainspring, especially when it can still generate power regardless of all the dust, debris and 120 years of accumulation that was covering all parts. It also had a thick film of lamp oil or coal fire grease or soot that needed a chemical bath in order to remove it fully, but the result was very pleasing, with the mechanism operating almost as well as it would have 100 years ago. The non-functioning bell has been reactivated and serviced and it provides a very good tone on all four of the bell settings, i.e either on every 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 6th swing of the pendulum. The unhinged door has suffered from the wear to the small retaining pin locators along the lower edge, to the extent that we had to relocate the retaining pins and make new holes. This does mean that care needs to be taken when replacing the door and to try to make sure that the pins sits in the new holes and not the old for a flush and flat fitting door. The original card tempo scale which was marked with the 'Qualite Excelsior' makers mark was unreadable, ripped and dirty, this has been replaced with a copy of a readable worn copy of a scale that dates to around the same timeframe. ( Unless we mentioned it, you probably would not be able to tell ).
The operation of this metronome is very good, we have it listed as running a little slow but this is to do with the replacement card tempo scale not being in the exact position of the old, so when aligning the upper pendulum weight with 60bpm for example, the 60 mark would once have sat ever so slightly lower and was factory balanced to this original mark. This is easily rectified by simply setting the upper pendulum weight 4bpm below the required tempo mark. i.e for 60 beats per minute, set it to 56bpm. It is relatively loud, nicely balanced and with the bonus of having a great sounding and consistent bell.
The underside of this piece had also suffered, feet where missing and had been replaced with rubber alternatives. these in turn have since been replaced by us ( see last two pictures, coming soon ), the lower door is also a replacement, not the best fit, but does what it was intended to do, which is to protect the mechanism from dirt and dust. This unit does have it's flaws visually but when you take into account the age of the piece and the good operation of both the mechanism and the bell, we think it is still a nice presentable metronome and has an appearance that you would expect from an antique of this age.

Beats per Min: 56* Operating Time: 45+ Minutes

Robert Cocks Presentation Victorian Burr Walnut Metronome + Bell ( SOLD - Order Number - M111 )

This wonderful Victorian Presentation metronome came to us from the family of the original Grandfather and Granddaughter combination that are named on the silver plaque attached to the front lower panel. It was presented as a gift for accomplishments achieved at Trinity College, in 1895. The full plaque reads : " To Ethel Caroline Rushton, as a memento from her Grandpa J.Rushton, on the occasion of her successful examination ( aged 10 yrs ) in piano-forte playing at Trinity College Local Exam. Barrow. June /95 ".
Ethel went on to become an accomplished pianist, continuing to play the piano throughout her life, she lived in Ulverston, Lancs and married a tailor, who had a shop in Barrow-in-Furness . She is also fondly remembered for her typically Victorian 'minute' cucumber sandwiches by her Grandson and custodian of this unique and cherished Walnut metronome.
No expense was spared in the purchase and subsequent addition of a high quality plaque during the latter stages of the Victorian era by Ethel's Grandfather, we suspect that the metronome was manufactured around the same time as the presentation date of 1895, and would have been purchased from new. In all likelihood it was assembled by either Robert Cocks or the Cramer Company, both based in London and both manufacturing metronomes throughout the Victorian era from around 1830, we suspect that it was probably the former. Made in Walnut, with a Burr Walnut frontage and door and Rosewood panels flanking the Boxwood tempo scale, it is typical of the extremely high quality materials used at the time by either firms. It has been very well cared for and remains in excellent condition, especially considering it is 130 years old. There are a few age cracks and minor seam splits to the external veneer, but hardly worth a mention and is unavoidable due to shrinkage over decades. The metronome features all of the original fixtures and fittings, feet, lower door and pendulum weight etc, nothing has been changed, swapped or replaced with the exception of the winding key. The solid brass fittings are evenly toned with consistent handling patina throughout, the original fire gilt has been lost to time, with some remaining areas still visible once the door is opened and the internal brass fittings, to include the upper pendulum weight are revealed.
The Robert Cocks firm had a habit of punching Roman Numerals into the woodwork on the underside for reasons unknown, this example is no exception, showing " III " stamped into the internal mechanism compartment, the underside door frame and also the removable lower door. Probably used for simply matching parts but a nice touch when assessing a metronome for authenticity regarding construction. There is also a hand written " 9/95 " showing on the inside of the mechanism compartment, this could be a production date of September 1895.
The operation of this lovely piece is good, it is well balanced and has had the bell adjusted so that it is now fully working on all four settings. It is a very audible metronome with a loud pendulum action and a nice strong return. The bell is a little on the quiet side but this is typical of most Victorian metronomes as the original bell spring's stretch slightly over time. The unit supplies 60 beats per minute and runs for a total of around 40-45 minutes. Another flaw that should mentioned is that obviously after 100+ years of use, a metronome's main drive spring will not be as strong as it was when it first left the factory or when it was first manufactured. In turn, on a unit that has the addition of a bell assembly, this can result in issues when trying to power both the pendulum arm and bell, especially when the mainspring has run down to near flat.
Visually, this piece is very attractive, featuring arguably the best selected combination of woods from the time and coupled with complimentary solid brass metal fittings that are very well toned. The addition of a full provenance and a totally unique and custom personal family dedication, means that the history and future research-ability of this particular metronome is assured. We rarely get the opportunity to offer a Victorian metronome with a full family history, this unit not only offers that but also happens to have been assembled or produced by the highest quality manufacturer of the period.

Beats per Min: 60 Operating Time: 40 Minutes

Robert Cocks or Cramer & Co Rosewood Veneered Victorian Metronome ( SOLD - Order Number - M112 )

A lovely Victorian London made metronome in very good condition and dating to around 1880. The mechanism in this one is one of the cleanest and brightest we have encountered on a Victorian metronome, with most covered with a film of coal or lamp oil residue. This one appears to have somehow escaped that predicament and was possibly displayed in a well ventilated area, it is even more remarkable considering the lower underside protective door is missing on this example. Finished with a high quality Rosewood Veneer, a boxwood tempo scale and flanked by solid Rosewood tempo scale side panels, it is typical of a mid production metronome by either of the London based firms. There is a minor veneer section missing from the left hand upper panel and the odd slight dent to the edge woodwork but these are extremely small and hardly worth a mention when you consider the 140 years of service.
The woodwork retains a semi gloss finish and is matched with wonderful chocolate brown solid brass fittings that all show a consistent handling patina, the tempo scale is the early wide type, with hand stamped individual markings and in near factory condition. This metronome also features a 3/4 sized door hinge and hand chaste upper brass pendulum weight. The tempo and audible return is excellent, loud and with a good solid tone, it operates at 60 beats per minute for a total runtime of around 45 minutes and is a solid performer. Originally, this metronome would have sat on three bun brass feet, two to the front ( which are still both original ) and one to the rear, which was fixed to the underside door. Since this door and foot have been lost of broken, two replacement feet have been fitted to the rear, but unless we had mentioned it here, you would never have guessed as they are a perfect match.
Inside the mechanism compartment and as with many of the these London metronomes, there is a pencilled hand written number which appears to be the year and month of manufacture. In this case 9/80 or 9/88 = September 1880/8. A truly superb example of an early Victorian metronome, finished to the highest standard which results in not only a fabulous display item but also coupled with a reliable performance. These are getting very hard to obtain and I am sure that this unit will not be around too long. The missing underside door panel in no way affects the metronome's performance, in some cases it can alter the audible tone of the tempo but on this particular unit, the difference is negligible due to the fact it still sounds so good without it.

Beats per Min: 60 Operating Time: 40 Minutes

JTL Walnut Metronome, possibly Victorian ( SOLD - Order Number - M113 )

This unit from the French firm of Jerome Thibouville Lamy ( JTL ) could well be Victorian. Devoid of a serial number to the underside it is hard to determine the exact age but almost certainly within 10 years either side of the turn of the Century c1900. In all original condition, with the factory fittings and parts all remaining intact, they have developed a lovely dark handling patina, the front door emblem still showing some of the original golden lacquer to the brass badge that has never been cleaned. It is a tidy and attractive example from JTL and finished with Walnut exterior panelling that still holds 100% of the factory lacquered topcoat.
Inside the removable front door, the card tempo scale has survived very well, it is relatively clean and fully legible and clearly marked to the lower third with the JTL moniker. The original feet, the underside mechanism door and upper pendulum weight and winding key are all original to the metronome, and the whole piece has obviously been very well cared for approximately 120 years. With only minimal surface scratches and no major dents or scrapes and with a pleasing golden tone to the woodwork. it is a great representative example. There are numerous scribbling's and hand written markings to the underside and '81W' hand pencilled onto the mechanism compartment, this is probably an assembler identifier rather than a date stamp.
As you would expect from such a clean exterior, the mechanism is also very clean and has been protected over the years by the underside protective door remaining intact and in place. As with all early metronomes however, it did have a light covering of lamp oil and coal fire residue grime which has been removed during the service. Operationally it is fantastic, it has a reliable tempo and a well balanced mechanism that is both audible, without being over-powering and also consistent, running at 60 beats per minute and for a total runtime of over 45 minutes. The main spring appears to be strong, suggesting minimal use and still powers the pendulum even on the slowest settings ( a rarity ).
If you are looking for a turn of the Century metronome, in all original condition and that is operationally reliable, you would be hard pressed to match this one. JTL is a premium French manufacturer, and in our opinion assembling metronomes around the 1900's to a higher standard than the larger firm of Paquet. They selected only quality materials and base woods and consistently offered very attractive, desirable and reliable metronomes.

NB: The white label to the underside we think is a relatively modern auction sticker.

Beats per Min: 60 Operating Time: 45 Minutes

Paquet Rosewood Victorian Metronome + BELL ( SOLD - Order Number - M114 )

The French firm of Paquet manufactured in excess of 1.7 million metronomes between 1846 and 1970, this unit has a serial number of 31,166. This serial number would usually date a Paquet manufactured metronome to around 1850 if the serial number was to be believed, however we are not so sure. The piece is certainly early and Victorian and if the serial was 131,166 we could believe it, however in our experience, this metronome does not bear the hallmarks of a metronome produced as early as 1850.
Whether this was a simple stamping error, an oversight or possibly that the metronome was in fact manufactured by another company ( even though it bears the Paquet emblem to the tempo scale ) we are unable to say. It maybe that we are wrong and this piece is that early, however the condition of the metronome, coupled with the addition of a bell assembly and the build features of the mechanism as a whole, do not comply, in our opinion to an 1850 dated piece.1875-1900 would be our estimate. With that said, this metronome is in excellent condition both externally and operationally. Featuring quality Rosewood paneling, it retains the majority of the original factory clear protective lacquered finish over the woodwork. There are no major dents or scrapes to the panels, with the exception of one slither that has been lost from the right hand panel. This is not immediately obvious and does not really detract as it could easily be mistaken for being part of the design, however it is there if you look for the gap between the removable door and the case. From the front and with the door removed it is not evident and hard to see, it is only really obvious when you look closely at the right panel, with the door in place. The rest of the woodwork, including the underside and lower door ( still in place ), feet and tempo scale panels are excellent.
The front door emblem / badge, still holds much of the original factory gilt finish with the other brass external fittings having developed a lovely chocolate brown handling patina, the winding key is a very good fit, possibly original although we think a later replacement is more likely, however it came to us in place and will remain with the metronome. The card tempo scale is very clean and fully legible, again not in keeping with a metronome produced in 1850. These tended to be manufactured in boxwood and hand stamped rather than card and factory produced. The upper pendulum weight is a replacement, the original had been filed to the lead based reverse causing the metronome performance to speed up, and throw out the weight / scale balance. This was probably done in the past to try to rectify limping and had a short term placebo effect until the mechanism was cleaned and serviced correctly.
So far in this description and after reading back, we have made this metronome sound terrible. It is in fact one of the better performing 100+ year old metronome's that we have encountered in a long time. The pendulum swing is extremely strong, a good sign of a strong mainspring and an escapement that has seen limited use. It is well balanced, accurate and audible. The bell, which is in good condition and factory original to the piece works correctly on all four settings and has an extremely pleasing tone / ring and reverb, again a great sign of a good mainspring. The performance and operation of this particular metronome, considering the age is extremely good. As an occasional use, practice aid, there should not be an issue, the only thing that does need to be pointed out is that with ALL antique metronome's, the engagement of the bell mechanism does put additional strain on the mainspring and this is often reflected in the pendulum swing or audible return being slightly affected during operation. It is visible also on this metronome but the effects are minimal.
A first rate Victorian manufactured metronome, with the bonus of having a fully working bell assembly and in very good external condition.

Beats per Min: 60 Operating Time: 45+ Minutes

Paquet Mahogany Victorian Metronome ( SOLD - Order Number - M115 )

Not to be considered for a practice aid or as a reliable time keeper, this metronome is being offered purely as a rare collectable and occasional use, shelf or display item. It is a French manufactured metronome from Paquet that dates to around 1870 or earlier. It features the early door emblem and early brass upper pendulum weight and solid quality Mahogany paneling for the exterior shell, and dates to a period in the Paquet firms history when it was transitioning from hand finishing and skilled worker assembly to production line and factory machined parts, cases and fittings. This one is a mix of both, having the later card tempo scale and yet retaining the earlier door emblem, brass upper pendulum weight and early style mechanism .
The age of the metronome, ( 150 years old ) means that it did not come without it's problems and has taken a lot of work to regain a regular tempo and functionality and for it to be somewhat consistent. We have replaced the brass front pivot arm retaining bracket, the anti-overwind feature has been changed, one underside lower slat and the feet have been replaced and painted. The mechanism has been fully stripped, cleaned, and all parts ultrasonically washed, the weights and pendulum balanced and both main cogs hand cleaned. It operates well but not at the top of a full wind. It was missing the anti-overwind feature when we received it, meaning it was possible to compress the mainspring well past the usual factory compression, weakening the spring to a small degree. This has resulted in a somewhat erratic pendulum swing and audible return when the spring is wound to maximum. Ideally and as a matter of course, the new owner should try to get into a habit of not winding to the absolute maximum but stopping a turn or two before full compression.
Once the metronome has been running for 5 minutes it performs well, it is well balanced, with a loud audible action and a nice even swing to the pendulum. However because of the somewhat unpredictable behavior when compressed, we are recommending this one not to be used in a practice environment.
The metronome configuration itself and the style of assembly is extremely rare, we have only ever offered around 4 or 5 with this make up of Paquet assembled parts and from around this 1870 time-frame. The pendulum arm still has the delicate movement and balance only seen on early production ( especially the 12" variants ) and can be susceptible to catches or poor handling, therefore care needs to be taken when setting the upper weight or replacing the arm for storage. It has a high 'furniture' quality Mahogany case, and we have reinforced the glue seams internally for stability. During testing, the metronome regularly achieved a runtime of 50+ minutes, so the replaced anti-overwind mechanism seems to have restored some consistency and taken the strain off a mainspring that could be over compressed without check. The original underside protective door is missing and this in turn means that the metronome itself is quite loud, the winding key is also a later replacement.
We normally would not go to this much trouble to restore a metronome from Paquet, however a unit this early and scarce deserves to be preserved in our opinion, it is collectable in it's own right and even non-functioning, it is an important piece. A solid performer but possibly erratic when fully compressed. This may ease with use.

Beats per Min: 60 Operating Time: 45+ Minutes

Jaccard Bakelite Metronome Retro +BELL ( SOLD - Order Number - M116 )

A Swiss manufactured metronome that was in production from around the late 1940's onwards. They came with or without the bell function, but more on that in a moment. It is relatively rare to find these in such good condition, they are extremely susceptible to poor cleaning attempts which easily mark or stain the Bakelite material, ruining the appearance. This one has had no such cleaning and remains in factory condition. The exterior is flawless, as is the tempo scale and the inner pendulum area. The original bottom base cover still in place and three out of the four retaining screws are still there with one missing. The mechanism bears the serial number 0046594.
The Swiss made mechanism's are very impressive, clinical, tidy and very well manufactured as you would expect with a Swiss time time keeping device. However, with that said, these do have a design flaw in that the bell remains engaged or drawing power from the mainspring, even with the audible bell sound disengaged. This places an additional requirement for a strong main spring constantly and on an antique metronome that has had 60-70 years of service, it is quite an ask. The only way to completely disable the bell and power the pendulum only, is internally.
This unit performs so much better with the bell completely disabled. With it engaged and working, the pendulum is weak and slow, disable the bell and it comes to life providing a steady, even and strong tempo. For that reason and although the bell will function on all four settings, we have disabled it and this unit should not be considered if you need this function.
Unfortunately the confusion does not end there. By design Jaccard allowed for this drag caused by the bell leaf spring, when the tempo was balanced for the fixed tempo scale. Now, and with the bell completely disabled, the pendulum / tempo runs faster and the beats per minute no longer match the tempo scale. In order to allow for this faster tempo you need to set the upper pendulum weight 12bpm slower than what you require. i.e for 60bpm you would set a slower setting of 48bpm. This also means that you lose the slowest tempo settings on the scale.
It is a shame and a compromise, but in our opinion worth disabling the bell for a fully functioning and reliable pendulum action and tempo. It simply does not have the power in the mainspring anymore to fully and reliably drive both parts of the mechanism.
Other points worth a mention is that you do get disconcerting residual noise from these mechanisms / spring when operationally winding down, likewise when winding up and these metronomes are easily over-wound so care needs to be taken to stop winding when a hard stop or heavy resistance is felt. Jaccard metronomes do however always supply an even tempo, useable in a practice environment, relatively loud and sturdy. You will get no problems from split seams, water marks to the woodwork or heavy scratches with this one and providing you only clean occasionally with a soft cloth and a little soapy water, it will remain in excellent shape. Bakelite objects are becoming collectable in their own right, these metronome's are certainly unique, oh, and did we mention that it is Swiss made!.

N.B. The original bell adjustment knob, seen in pic 8 below is supplied with the metronome but stored in the mechanism compartment, in case the new owner wants to re-enable the bell.

Beats per Min: 72* Operating Time: 34 Minutes

Brass Polishing:

We also offer a brass polishing service, where we remove all exterior brass fittings and polish to a high sheen which seems to be popular when matching a metronome to a piano for display purposes. We do not clean the fittings by default unless we feel the unit warrants it and any item shown on the website without cleaned brass-work is sold as viewed. We will however, under instruction polish fittings once a unit has been purchased for a standard charge of £9.95. Occasionally metronomes can be fitted with nickel silver or copper metal-work and in most cases these are best left to develop a deep handling patina. We will advise if we do not think that a unit would benefit from this service.

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