The turned mahogany dials with the letter 'P' for 'passengers' and 'M' for 'mail', each with a painted chapter ring with Arabic numerals surrounded by cockbeaded borders, with a single gilt brass hand to the centre, the surround with cavetto moulding with two brass wall mounting brackets.

Coaching dials were displayed at a coaching post or inn to show the time the next coach departed. The dial is operated by hand.

Mail services by coach did not begin until the late 18th century. Edwin A. Pratt writes 'The experimental service started in 1784 was an immediate success, and when it became known that letters were being carried between Bristol and London in sixteen hours, every other important town or city in the country (Liverpool being one of the first to petition) wanted to have its own postal arrangements improved in the same way. Thus there was inaugurated a 'mail-coach era' which was to continue unchecked until the first despatch of mails by railway in 1830.' ('A History Of Inland Transport And Communication In England' (London, Kegan Paul..., 1912) p. 56).

A related pair of mahogany dials dated as 18th century are illustrated in E.H. Pinto, 'Treen and other wooden bygones' (Bell & Hyman, 1979), pl. 295.

A Georgian coaching timer dating from the first half of the 19th century sold at Sotheby's New York for $16,800 (The Vision of Aso O. Tavitian, The Online Sale, 21 January-11 February 2025, lot 1880).