American, circa 1880, consisting of a small walnut shelf-clock case housing brass clockworks signed "H.J. DAVIES" (New York) with the addition of an automated match holder and striker on top of the case that can be pre-set to light a small brass fluid lamp, signed on the thumb screw "E. MILLER&CO" (Meriden, Connecticut), 14-3/4 in., face rubbed, not tested at time of examination. Notes: This device relates to a patent issued in 1869 to J. Rigby, Fort Howard, Wisconsin. In the application, the inventor claimed that the "match is so arranged as to light a wick saturated with oil, and arranged to give a sufficient flame, and to burn long enough to awaken persons sleeping in the room, or to set a fire in a stove." (Patent No. 94,031 issued 24 August 1869.) A similar patent (no. 186,317) with safety improvements was issued to Henry and Walter Davies of Brooklyn, NY in 1877 and employed by B. Bradley & Company, Boston, in making the "Illuminated Alarm Clock.". Provenance: Collection of Tran Duy Ly, Johnson City, Tennessee face rubbed, not tested at time of examination