Current issue of Antiquarian Horology

Volume 45, Issue 3 September 2024

On the front cover: Close-up of a sculpture representing Hercules carrying a celestial globe with a clock signed on the dial by Abraham-Louis Breguet. It is on display in the Royal Palace in Madrid. (Photo Keith Scobie-Youngs). It was seen during the Society’s Study Tour to Spain, which is reported in this issue.

This issue contains the following articles:

John Harrison (1693–1776): a legacy of invention and engineering. Part 1
by Ann McBroom (pages 318–348)
Summary: John ‘Longitude’ Harrison has been the subject of multiple excellent publications detailing his life and horological achievements, some only recently confirmed. The current paper is designed as a supplement: Part I explores the genealogy of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and offers a broad summary of their lives. Part 2 looks in greater depth at the inventive and engineering skills many displayed, and explores what happened to JLH’s writings and instruments as they passed through these first few generations.

Italian grande-sonnerie whizzing work striking
by John A Robey (pages 349–362)
Summary: This article discusses the specifically Italian system of whizzing-work that produces grande-sonnerie using only one striking train. After describing the principles of whizzing-work, four clocks are considered that all employ this idiosyncratic system. While the basic method is the same for the first three clocks, which have two-hands, they show regional variations and different arrangements to produce similar results. The fourth clock is likely to be the earliest one described here, and differs considerably in the layout of its striking-work. All four clocks have different escapements and dials, two of the dials being very unusual, possibly unique.

Reassessment of the painted clock dials of Thomas Pyke Sr & Jr of Bridgwater and an introduction to the painted clock dials of Cox of Taunton, Somerset. Part 1
by Nial Woodford (pages 363–379)
Summary: This is the first part of a two-part treatise reassessing the painted clock dials of the Thomas Pyke foundry of Bridgwater, Somerset and the introduction of a believable link with a number of painted dials emanating from the little-known Cox foundry of Taunton. The review of Pyke dials is based on communications to the author post publication of an article concerning Thomas Pyke’s pewter enhanced painted dials published in the June and September 2015 editions of the journal.

AHS Study Tour to Spain
(pages 412-428)
Summary: A richly illustrated report of the recent tour to Spain. (Read this article here)

Note: on the AHS Grant of Arms (pages 395–397)

‘Unfreezing Time #19’ by Patricia Fara (pages 380-381) (Read the whole series of articles here)

The issue totals 148 pages and is illustrated mainly in colour, and is completed by the regular sections Horological News, Book Reviews, Unfreezing Time, Notes from the Librarian, AHS News, Letters and Further Reading.