The Northern Section meetings offer a variety of formal lectures and club nights at their meeting hall together with staging exhibitions at local museums, demonstrations of horological conservation and visits to horological places of interest.

The Club Nights and Lectures usually alternate each month with a guest lecturer being invited to give a presentation to the meeting, often with visual aids and exhibits. For the club night a theme is chosen, and members are encouraged to bring items for display, and possibly to say a few words about them.

The meetings are friendly, relaxed and give the opportunity to meet new friends with similar interests, exchange views, ideas, and get help with solving your horological problems. As well as this you relax with refreshments whist your discussions take place.

Our meetings are held on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm and carry on until everyone leaves, usually between 10:30 and 11:00 pm. The venue is in The Village Methodist Church (formerly Sale Moor Methodist Church), located at 303 Northernden Road, Sale, Manchester M33 2PP. Parking in front of the church and surrounding streets is available. The church is located on the south side of Manchester within a mile of Sale Railway station and close to the M60 junctions 6 and 7.

Visitors and new members are always most welcome.

Northern Section

To be held at our NEW VENUE of The Village Methodist Church, 303 Northernden Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 2PP at 7.30pm for 8.00pm, unless otherwise stated

Friday 13 December 2024

CHRISTMAS SOCIAL: with theme of Horological Ephemera

Full Programme for 2024 (PDF download, updated 11 October)

Friday 10 January 2025

AGM and short video presentation

Friday 14 February 2025

Club Night: Bring and Tell - Letter A

Friday 14 March 2025

Lecture: 'Clock and Watch Escapements' by Jim Arnfield

Recent Meetings

Reports of previous meetings 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

Some highlights of the study tour to Italy 2023 (November 2024)

As this tour was fully reported in Antiquarian Horology, September 2023, John Griffiths gave us glimpses of the many wonderful items viewed including his own ‘favourites’ which are included here.

Nov 24 - 1 Two Day Marine Chrono — Two-Day Marine Chronometer by Barraud. Its balance is fitted with Barraud's middle temperature compensation weight on one arm and a wedge compensation weight on the other. Image: John Griffiths from a private collection.

Nov 24 - 2 rare tool — An instrument rarely seen in the UK for pitching lever escapements. There are three sets of runners which are adjustable for depth and relative position. With the balance staff and roller in one, the scape wheel in another and the pallets in another, adjustments can be made for depth of engagement and correct functioning. Image: John Griffiths from a private collection.

Nov 24 - 3 pocket watch — Superb, enamelled pocket watch signed De Combe, Paris, circa 1680, with case by Jean Pierre Haud, Geneva. Image: John Griffiths, Milan Museum.

Nov 24 - 4 division plate — Division plate inscribed Jacobus Lusnerg Faciebat, Roma 1688. Has some quite high counts. Used all over Europe for dividing wheels using a rule and dividers but mainly the latter. There is one incorporated into a wheel cutting engine in the Science Museum with a plate of similar date. In England especially in Lancashire the wheel engine reigned supreme for speed and accuracy by the date this was made. Image: John Griffiths from a private collection.

The following images of St Mark’s Square Clock Tower in Venice are included as a set to indicate some parts of the installation which were not fully described in AH. The mechanism and the hammer-men which toll the hours from the roof of the tower are not included as they were illustrated and described in the journal. There is a wonderful website with a very full description of the whole installation here.

Nov 24 - 5 St Mark's Clock Tower — St Mark’s Clock Tower, St Mark’s Square, Venice. This location had a clock before the existing one by Carlo Zuan Rainieri was installed in a new tower in 1499. The two side wings were attached in 1503. Image: RJ Griffiths.

Nov 24 - 6 St Mark's Square dial — The dial facing St Mark’s Square. This has a fixed twenty-four hour dial with Roman numerals. Within this is a mobile ring with gilded images of the zodiac, names of the months and the number of days. At the very centre is the earth, a rotating ring with a fixed pointer with the sun points to the hours. On another ring the moon revolves and rotates showing its different phases. Another, simpler dial shows the time on the opposite side of the tower. Image: RJ Griffiths.

Nov 24 - 7 Above the dial — Above the dial is a statue of the Madonna and Child. The hour(left) and minute numbers (at 5 minutes intervals) on either side were added in 1858 by Luigi De Lucia so the public could see the time more clearly than just by the dial. They took the place of the Magi and an angel which had formerly processed through these openings to pass in front of the Madonna. Image: RJ Griffiths.

Nov 24 - 8 hour and minute numbers — Part of the rotating carrying ring in the form of a toothed circle of steel bar located by anti-friction rollers on the floor. The rotating barrels show the hour (right) and minutes (left). When the number barrels were installed, the Magi were stored away, but twice a year, the barrels lift and swing out of place; there are attachment points on the ring for the three Magi and angel. The ring is driven by the wheel on the inside and allow the Magi and angel to process hourly at Epiphany and the Feast of the Ascension. Image: John Griffiths.

Nov 24 - 9 Three kings and angel — For most of the year, the Magi and angel are stored with the two doors which cover the openings in the tower when it isn’t time for their procession. These carvings date to 1755; they have been repainted several times since. Image RJ Griffiths

Wristwatches (October 2024)

The topic for our October meeting was wristwatches which attracted a range of items including innovative designs, commemorative presentation pieces, the first watches owned by members and everyday watches. A selection of these is illustrated below.

Oct 24 - 1 blind.jpg — Wristwatch by Eone was made in the USA specially for blind people. It has two magnetized ball bearings for hours and minutes which run in specially shaped channels. The balls are slightly raised above the channels enabling their positions to be ‘read’ by touch.

Oct 24 - 2 Prestons.jpg — A much-cherished Uno Sealord presented to a member’s grandfather on his retirement. Accompanying it was the guarantee and sales invoice from Prestons Ltd., of Bolton.

Oct 24 - 3 Cats etc.jpg — A member’s collection of wristwatches mostly comprising modern examples featuring cats on their dials. The watch in the bottom left was presented to the member’s daughter for competing in the Commonwealth Games in 2008, and in the opposite corner is a Timex watch produced to celebrate 100 years since the running of the first Olympic Marathon in 1908.

A ‘Watermel0n Watch’ – the result of a lockdown crowd-funded project by Studio Underd0g in collaboration with Swiss movement makers creating hand-wound mechanical wristwatches. The range features dials including the pizza, salm0n and passi0nfruit. (Zeros placed in the brand-name and names of the watches presumably as a company signature.)

Oct 24 - 5 BHI watch.jpg — BHI 151 Tourbillon 150 years anniversary wristwatch. The case is stainless steel, and the watch is manually wound. The dial is textured and silvered with Roman numerals. At VI an aperture reveals the Tourbillon, with a power reserve indicator above. It has a glazed back giving a view of the movement.

Oct 24 - 6 collection.jpg — A collection of mostly modern wristwatches left to a member by a dear friend.

American clocks and watches (September 2024)

The September meeting was the first in our new venue. It focussed on American clocks and watches and attracted a host of items. A small sample is illustrated below.

Sept 24 Wallclock group.jpg — Wall clocks made and cased in America specifically for the UK market

Sept 24 Willard clock and book.png — The clock left is anonymous but bears a striking resemblance to the clock illustrated on the cover of Paul J Foley’s book, Willard’s Patent Time Pieces. The base on the clock is rectangular, not square, like the illustration but was distorted by the camera angle. (With apologies for the reflection from the flash.)

Sept 24 Ansonia group.jpg — Left: An Ansonia ‘Triumph’ eight-day half-hour strike table clock had an oak case. Decorative features included silver cupids, mirrors and bronze ornaments. Top right: ‘Triumph’ label on the back of the case. Bottom right: Catalogue listing of the ‘Triumph’ range of clocks.

Sept 24 watch collection.JPEG — A collection of watches. Back row left: A Waltham with a Dennison case. Sold by Preston’s of Bolton. Centre: Hamilton model 992, dating to c.1930. Right: Hamilton chronometer deck watch dated c. 1942. Serial no. 2F19872 36 size 21 jewels Mid row Left: Elgin Father Time 1922. Centre: Hamilton 992B Railway Special c.1940 Front row Left: New England Watch Ci. (formerly Waterbury) Skeleton dial with see-through back. Centre: Hamilton 4992B c.1941 Navigation Master Watch US Navy contract AN5740-1

Sept 24 Never wind.jpg — The Tiffany Never-Wind. Concept patented by George S Tiffany in 1901 and version with a tortion pendulum patented 1903-4. This one was issued by the National Magnetic Company. Production began 1940.

Club Night (August 2024)

The August meeting was another club night, its theme being Watch and Clockmakers’ tools. Many items brought in by members are illustrated below.

Aug 24 - 1 jacot and john torry.jpg — Jacot Tool - A French Tour a Pivoter used for burnishing the pivots on watch arbors. This example has various lanterns, spares, and also has the pivot gauge. Generally driven with a handheld horsehair bow which gives good control of the operation. Below – Various watchmakers’ tools from the workshop of John Torry, Birkenhead, 1838-1901.

Aug 24 - 2 swiss universal.jpg — This type of dead-end "Swiss Universal" and "English Mandrel" (an interchangeable term) was a design introduced during the 1700s, possibly by the inventive watchmaker Vauscher, based in what was then the centre of the trade in the Swiss town of Fleurier. A common feature of the English Mandrel, the spindle was supported in a single bearing at the front and against a hardened centre at the rear; this being a simple but effective arrangement reflected contemporary small-lathe practice for much of the 1800s. Another of the lathe's significant features was the inclusion of a decent compound slide rest that allowed the operator precise control of the cutting tool. In many cases these lathes had what appeared to be three slide rests however, on the Swiss lathes this fitting was not a slide but a very clever means of adjusting the tool height.

Aug 24 - 3 assorted bits.jpg — Book by Malcolm Wilde "Clock Wheel & Pinion Cutting" giving full descriptions and guidelines: Wheel Cutters x 50 purchased from Furtwangen Clock Fair in Germany for 1 Euro Each: Home made Wheel Cutter: Piece of CZ 120 brass used in clockmaking: Blue pivot steel: Staking Tool & Set of Punches: Watch Poising Tool: Small needlefiles: 5 sided Broaches: Magnifier for finding scribed crosses: Parallel Pliers: Small Hammer: Water of Ayre Stone - Sharpening Stone: 2 x Depthing Tools: Walsh's Catalogue.

Aug 24 - 4 Swiss wheel cutting engine.jpg — Swiss wheel cutting engine with pivoted frame. This was accompanied by two hand-written letters from the seller to the buyer dated November and December 1922.

Aug 24 - 5 Rounding up tool.jpg — Rounding up or Topping Tool for working on watches. In the foreground is a set of tools and fitments for the above including multiple cutters, stumps and runners and a small spanner.

Aug 24 - 6 Lancashire mandrel.jpg — A Lancashire Mandrel.

Aug 24 - 7 Lathe Headstock.jpg — Lathe Headstock with Screw Head Copier, including six master threads and a spacer al dating to c.1830.

Aug 24 - 8 Lancs fusee engine.jpg — Rare bow-fronted Lancashire Fusee Engine which previously belonged to Ted Crom. Members were also shown a copy of Ted Crom’s book, Horology with Cutting Engines, 1700-1900.

Other items shown included: gathering pallet blanks both right and left handed; a large selection of pinion wire, fifty wheel cutters purchased at a Furtwangen Clock Fair for 1 Euro each; a home made wheel cutter; piece of CZ 120 brass used in clock making; watch poising tool; blue pivot steel; five-sided broaches; magnifier for finding scribed crosses; parallel pliers; Water of Ayre stone for sharpening tools; Walsh’s catalogue; and a copy of Malcolm Wilde’s book, Clock Wheel and Pinion Cutting giving full descriptions and guidelines.

30 Hour Clocks (July 2024)

This theme attracted many longcase movements, wall clocks and a surprising alarm clock. Their dates ranged from c.1690 to the 1960s with makers’ locations varying from the UK, Germany, Switzerland and USA. A sample is illustrated below.

Jul 24 - 1 Most items.JPEG — Some of the thirty hour clocks shown during the meeting.

Jul 24 - 2 Longcase dials.JPEG — One member brought his collection which comprised three clocks by Oxfordshire Quakers: Richd Gilkes of Adderbury (x2) and Wm Green of Milton [Under Wychwood]; and others by Gabriel Smith of Nantwich, Wm Monk of Barrick St John [Sic] (Wiltshire), and Wm Bradford of Drayford, (Devon), W. Townly of Bourton (on-the-Water), Joseph Mills of South Molton (Devon) and Wilkinson Sanderson of Wigton.

Jul 24 - 3 Jeremiah.jpg — John Sanderson of Wigton is sometimes referred to as Jeremiah Sanderson although no documentary evidence of this being his name has been traced. Members were very interested to see the name Jeremiah engraved on the back of this clock’s chapter ring.

Jul 24 - 4 annonymous mment.jpg — Anonymous longcase movement with rolling moon and engraved silvered centre. A small lever beside lX allows one of four unnamed tunes to be played by ten hammers on ten bells every hour in addition to the strike.

Jul 24 - 5 Willard.jpg — The dial and movement of a longcase clock dated 1784 has the signature, Willard; its movement resembles a Franklin three-wheeler. The owner wanted suggestions as to the significance of the dogs on the dial, each of which is holding a star.

Jul 24 - 6 alarm.jpg — A Réveil-briquet, (translated as a lighter alarm clock); when it is time for the alarm, a match is struck which would then enable the adjacent clock dial to be seen.

Comic, Novelty and Advertising Clocks & Watches (June 2024)

While perhaps not encompassing ‘comic’ clocks and watches, the selection of novelty and advertising items brought in by members for display and discussion was fascinating.

Novelty items were by far the most numerous and ranged from an antique automaton to souvenir items featuring music and/or movement. A small sample of the display is shown below.

Jun 24 - 1 monkey harp.jpg — A large, seated monkey automaton harp player by either Gustave Vichy or Roullet & Decamps is certainly a novelty. It was made in the second half of the nineteenth century and is in very good playing condition.

Jun 24 - 2b pocket watch.jpg — Two very similar gold skeletonised pocket watches with jacquemart figures which ‘strike’ the hours and quarters on two bells. Maker/s unknown.

Jun 24 - 3 Collection by Schmid.jpg — A collection of clocks mostly by Schmid of Germany. Some have music and/or moving automata.

Jun 24 - 4 collection small brass.jpg — A collection of miniature battery-driven clocks each one in a heavy brass case. Some follow traditional styles, others are imaginative on themes such as motor racing, sailing and cooking.

Jun 24 - 5 nursing home.jpg — This quartz wall clock is one of one hundred made to advertise a nursing home in Lancashire.

Members' 10-minute talks (May 2024)

The theme for the May meeting was members’ ten minute talks; four members stepped up to present. These ranged from updating members on a clockmaking project and on new finds, two very different items by the same maker, and organ clocks.

These were:

Update on progress on making a Tekippe three wheel regulator
Two 50 year old items by Heuer
Updates on Liverpool’s tidal clocks and one made in Scotland
Organ clocks

The Tekippe regulator - progress

Following a meeting in October 2022,

The escapement which has its pallets on the pendulum, was completed but its ball race made it unreliable.
The escape arbor has been renewed.
The way the barrel is wound has been improved so it no longer affects the pendulum
The size of the bob has been increased.
A suitable, American case has been found.

Two items by Heuer

This desk clock by Heuer, launched in 1974, is now very rare. It is mains powered; its seven-segment display requiring 200v to run it. There is a quartz movement with integrated circuits and transistors. It told the time throughout our meeting.

Another Heuer item was a chronograph wristwatch also launched in 1974 on the USA market where it was marketed as the Kentucky.

Updates on Liverpool’s tidal clocks and one made in Scotland

Finney table clock with map of the Northern Hemisphere in the arch and a strange face engraved on the Liverpool patchwork centre with a mouth-shaped date aperture. What sort of person/creature/spirit is this?

Part of the dial of a clock by Thomas Gilmour. The spandrels show: Top left: Newton, Top right: Columbus, Bottom left: Cook Bottom right: Herschel

24 hour dial. Subsidiary dials: Top – seconds, Bottom – date and days of the week

Why is the compass reversed?

What do the D and M numbers indicate?

Organ clocks

Our member has been researching the makers of organ clocks and observing their progress in auctions for several years. Although not a clock, but driven by clockwork, this barrel organ by George Pyke, clockmaker to King George lll is a fascinating piece of work. It is housed in a Chippendale-style bureau-bookcase. It has a total of 160 pipes, intact, original bellows and two drums of tunes: one pinned with twelve single tunes and another with six spirally pinned tunes.

Chronographs, stopwatches and portable timers (April 2024)

This topic inspired members to search their collections; the image below shows a large display which was brought by just one member.

It includes timers for photography, aircraft, cookery, telephone call charges, medical and military uses. Amongst the chronographs and stopwatches there were examples made specifically for timing torpedoes, split second chronographs for timing race horses and for yacht racing, chronographs for aircraft use including one with a slide rule for calculating fuel usage, early automatic chronographs by Zenith, Universal Geneve and Omega and a French tachymetre for calculating speed or distance travelled.

Items shown by other members included a Cadencia portable metronome by Swiss Home Watch Company and a pocket watch which doubled as a thermometer; a Russian chronograph and an example signed by M. Hoffenberg of Leeds; a heavy, Blick portable time recorder and a timer rescued by a member from his workplace when it was scrapped 20 years ago – surprisingly its battery is still working!

Apr 24 - 2 Pocket Metronome-Cadencia.JPG — Cadencia portable metronome.

APr 24 - 3 Pocket watch with thermometer.JPG — Pocket watch by Louis Appolt incorporating a thermometer.

Apr 24 - 5 works timer.JPG — Electronic timer rescued in 2003 by a member from his workplace when it was no longer required. It can time intervals from one hundredth of a second to 10 hours. Its original power source (which is unknown) is still capable of running and displaying the timer.

An update on research into James Condliff, his family and their clocks. (March 2024)

Although many of James Condliff’s clocks are widely admired, the range of the work of three generations of Condliff clockmakers is probably better known in the north of England than elsewhere. Whilst touching upon much of the ground covered by Darlah Thomas in the London Lecture of January 2024, this talk included further information which has recently come to light. The images below illustrate some of the range of products made by the Condliff family.

Mar 24 1 HMP Lpool.jpg — This is the turret clock made by James Condliff in 1854 for Walton Jail, Liverpool, (now known as HMP Liverpool). It has been replaced by an electric clock but the mechanism is now displayed in the main entrance of the prison. Photo: Sue Harris, HMP Liverpool, 2021

Mar 24 2 Dreweatts.jpg — This skeleton clock is a Series 1-2 hybrid timepiece. It has a brass frame with its winding barrel set within the movement arch, and a serpent, balance wheel and helical spring mounted in the lower area which are all characteristics of Series One clocks. However, it has a single chapter ring which is familiar on James Condliff’s Series Two and Three skeleton clocks. Each clock in this hybrid series is different from all the others, usually in the position of the barrels, the shape and position of the serpent, or its complete absence and some have a strike or ting tang chime on gongs in the timber base. Photo: Dreweatts

Mar 24 3a Condliff stamp.jpg — A classic style Condliff regulator with a 12 inch dial. There is no name on the dial but on the movement there is the Condliff stamp and the name of the original purchaser: Jno B. McFadden, 1832, a Pittsburgh jeweller, watch and clock maker. It is a high quality, top of the range instrument with all the refinements required by the serious horologist or astronomer of its time. The Condliff stamp is to be found on the base of the movement’s front plate. Photo: Jonny Flower

Mar 24 4 Penlington.jpg — Many clocks made by the Condliff family in Liverpool were sold by retailers whose names appear on their dials. This is a two train table clock signed by retailer: Josh Penlington. Several clocks with similar inlaid brass inset in different patterns have appeared on the market in recent years. The Condliff stamp is on the back of this movement.

Bring and display: horological items relating to X, Y and Z. (February 2024)

Members found these letters challenging, but some lateral thinking resulted in an interesting evening. Items shown are listed below and a selection of images is included:

Letter X. This being the most difficult letter, some interpretations were creative …

Ten horological reference books (X the Roman numeral for 10)

Ex-military items:-
A wristwatch by Omega dated 1943 which was issued by the RAF.
A mechanism for timing aircraft turns, probably dating to WWll, marked ‘Signal Corps US Army’, and ‘Sangamo Electric Company, Illinois’.

Letter Y.

Three pocket watches signed ‘Thomas Yates, Preston’. These were hallmarked 1849, 1860 and 1873. In addition, there were two 1920s Yates watch keys, each showing a different numbered location within Friargate, Preston.

Two items connected with America – Yanks!
A girl on a swing replaced a standard pendulum on a very decorative clock.
US government ‘Marathon’ chronometer.

A 1960s year-going longcase clock by Peter Bradley of Leicester.

Letter Z.

Three pocket watches:
James Lowe, Hazel Grove’ [Stockport].
A warranted railway timekeeper signed by CB Mazzucchi, Crook, [County Durham].
A fine movement and dial only, signed Zimmerman, Liverpool, number 16158.

Two Swiss quartz ‘carriage clocks’ made by Imhof, one signed ‘Garrard’ and the other ‘Garrard & Co., London’.

Prescot Time Ball Project opening (January 2024)

Thirty-two Northern Section members and guests were invited to a simple opening ceremony at the Prescot Time Ball Project on 13th January 2024. We were the guests of Ron Musker and his family; Ron has been the driving force behind this project. A few years ago, Ron purchased an old time ball which had once been mounted on Beale’s Building in Islington, London. When that building was demolished in 1970, the ball became redundant after eighty years’ service. It arrived in Prescot in poor condition, but Ron had plans. The Flat Iron Building in Prescot which Ron had owned since the 1970s was ready for refurbishment and as it had a significant place in the town’s horological history as the home of the Lancashire Watch Company office, strong room, a few workshops and small warehouse, it was ideal for his purpose - to have a functioning time ball on his building as a beacon of the town’s horological past. We were there to witness the project’s completion.

Prescot Visit 1 Our visit.jpg — Jim Arnfield welcomed members and guests and then Justin Koullapis, who has been interested in the project since it began, spoke on the history of time balls and of Prescot’s former role in our horological history.

Prescot Visit 2 clock.jpg — The clock for the project was made by John Johnson of Prescot c.1815. Johnson’s workshop was about 100 metres from the Flat Iron Building.

Prescot Visit 3 Time ball before restoration.jpg — The time ball before restoration.

Prescot Visit 4 Lifting arm during construction.jpg — The ball lifting-arm during construction.

Prescot Visit 5 Phil Ron Jim Brian.jpg — The horological team. From left: Phil Irvine, Ron Musker, Jim Arnfield, Brian Percival.

Prescot Visit 6 the finished project.jpg — The project apparatus complete.

Prescot Visit 7.jpg — The apparatus is located in the stairwell of the building just inside the entrance hall.

Prescot Visit 8 FIB testing.jpg — The Flat Iron Building with the time ball raised during a period of testing (that is why the clock is showing 11 o’clock). It will rise to the top of the pole a few minutes before 1pm daily and drop exactly as the clock strikes one o’clock.

AGM and video presentation (January 2024)

The meeting opened with the usual greetings and notices and then the AGM followed. Once the formal proceedings were completed, we had a refreshment break and then the group was shown a video entitled The Anatomy of a Singing Bird Box. The box, thought to date to c1865, was made by Frenchman Jacques Bruguier (1801-1871) who worked in Geneva.

The film was made and narrated by John Moorhouse and explains the construction and operation of the box and its bird automaton which John had the task of restoring. He explained some of the problems he faced and detailed how to set up and adjust the mechanism.

Antiquarian Horological Society | The story of time

Objects and ideas
in the story
of time