Worshipful Company of Clockmakers

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers (short: Clockmakers Company, in the literature also C. C. ) is one of the Livery Companies of the 108 City of London. The a guild -like association of watch was founded on August 22, 1631 by Charles I. by royal statute, the so-called Royal Charter.

History and Development

The original purpose was the regulation and promotion of watchmaking work along with some other crafts, such as engraving or making sundials and mathematical instruments. The scope of the statute was originally limited to the city of London and a radius of ten miles, but was extended in some areas on the whole of England and Wales.

The Company had a particular interest in quality control, to train new watchmakers and the welfare of their members. Within the city, no one should make watches and watch parts and watch parts may sell or buy, except he was a member of the guild. In order to enforce these goals had the Company broad powers and she was authorized to draw up rules for the watch trade. The apprenticeship for watchmakers was fixed at five years and offenses impose high penalties. Simple could only train an apprentice, as a master, Warden or Assistant of those two. The Company was allowed to search in the presence of a police officer all ships, warehouses, establishments and any places where they inferior goods, poor work or violations suspected, a right which was exercised until the 18th century. The restrictions were eased later and finally disappeared altogether.

Join one could follow the Clockmakers Company through a successful apprenticeship with a free watchmaker, by paying a fee or by the patrimony, the right of the child to his parent in the Company.

The Company was ( and is still ) by a Court (comparable to a chamber ) performed the ten or more selected assistants ( wizards) belonged. This Court determined annually a "master" and three " Warden " as the official representative and a " Secretary" who took care of the daily business. Master, whose year was expired, fell back to the rank of Assistant.

Today is the Clockmakers Company, like most Livery Companies, a charitable institution. It gives Tompion and Harrison Gold Medals for outstanding achievements of watchmaking world. The motto of the Company is Tempus Imperator Rerum (in German about: The time is the ruler ( about ) all things ).

Library and Museum

The library of the Clockmakers Company was founded in 1813. It initially consisted of very old manuscripts of the Company, which are based on the most modern publications on British watchmaker. The library quickly grew to books, which were often presented by the author himself or commented on by famous watchmaker and contains a variety of very rare volumes. 1925, the collection was transferred with the consent of the Corporation of London in the library of the Guildhall, so that they could be made freely available to the public.

The watch collection was started in 1814 and is the oldest collection of clocks in the world. She is since 1874 also in the Guildhall Library. The collection will be shown in a single space, comprises about 600 small watches, 30 clocks and 15 marine chronometer along with a number of rare watchmakers portraits. Most of the pieces come from the period 1600-1850. A collection also the marine chronometer " H5 " by John Harrison is to be found.

Founding members

  • Master: David Ramsay
  • Warden: Henry Archer, Shelton Sampson and John Willowe
  • Assistant: Simon Bartram, John Charlton, Edward East, Francis Foreman, John Harris, Samuel Linnaker, John Midnall, Richard Morgan, John Smith and James Vantrollier

Other well-known members

  • John Arnold (1736-1799)
  • John Roger Arnold (1769-1843), Master ( 1817)
  • Paul Philip Barraud (1750-1820), Master (1810-1811)
  • Nathaniel Barrow (? -1699 ), Master (1689 )
  • George Daniels (1926-2011), Master
Livery Company City of London Corporation Guildhall (London) David Ramsay (watchmaker) John Arnold (watchmaker) George Daniels (watchmaker) Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy
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