Edward Barlow (priest)

Edward Barlow (* 1636, † 1716; also Edward Booth), was an English watchmaker.

Life

Barlow is considered the inventor of the computational impact mechanism for clocks, which was documented by his patent application in 1686. The invention of the computer impact mechanism made ​​it possible to query the time even during the dark. The clock displays the current hour and quarter hours acoustically via an audible signal at each time the lever on the clock is pressed. Daniel Quare appealed to the king against Barlow's patent application for appeal, Quare stated that he had developed the rack strike movement already 1680. Barlow's patent application was rejected, but today both Barlow and Quare regarded as the inventor.

In addition, Edward Barlow in 1695 with Thomas Tompion and William Houghton was granted a patent on a precursor of the cylinder escapement. His invention had a decisive influence on the development of pocket watches with coil spring and balance wheel.