Independents

In this time of the hyperbol and the sound bite, watch companies make a great deal of the length of time between winding. Despite advances in metallurgy and technology, CAD design, it is difficult to believe that over 300 years ago Thomas Tompion, clockmaker to his Majesty the King, was able to design and make a year running table clock. Thomas Tompion made the clock for King William III (1689-1702) and it is believed to have been commissioned in 1689, the year of the coronation of William and Queen Mary for the royal bedchamber. Not sure what the clock was doing in the royal bedchamber, but perhaps it was such an object of pride and possession, that the royal couple wished it for themselves!



On the King's death, the clock was part of the legacy of 'the contents of the King's bedchamber' which passed to Henry Sydney, Earl of Romney, who was Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Groom of the Stole. Henry Sydney died without an heir, and it then passed by descent, through various hands to the fifth Lord Mostyn.

The clock is a spectacular work by Britain's most celebrated clockmaker at the height of his powers. He was the most celebrated clockmaker at the centre of the watch and clockmaking world. It was the technological marvel of the age. The case is made of ebony veneer, decorated with applied silver and gilt-brass mounts. The dome bears the Royal shield of arms and Britannia with a shield bearing the combined crosses of St George and St Andrew. At the corners are the rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, and the lion and unicorn.



The dial shows hours and minutes but also has a sector aperture at the top which displays the days of the week, each with a figure personifying its ruling planet. The dial also has the frosted gold finish that your see on other watches by Daniels, or Smith, or a a Greubel Forsey. The year duration is achieved by using six-wheel gear trains which are driven by relatively large barrels and fusees. The clock has a verge escapement controlled by a short pendulum. It strikes the hours in passing and has a pull-quarter repeat system (it strikes the last hour and quarter on pulling a cord at the side of the case). A silver plaque on the dial is inscribed 'T Tompion Londini Fecit' ('Thomas Tompion of London made it').

Have a look here for inside photos of the movement (pages 7 and 8 in particular):
www.uhrenaktuell.de

When the fifth Lord Mostyn had possession of the clock, popular myth has the story that the Lord Mostyn was so fed up with winding the clock once a year (you can imagine that a year running clock takes a bit of winding), he decided to invite a few friends round, throw a party, and have everyone else wind the clock! At least as early as 1793 the Lord Mostyn is known to have held a small party when the clock was wound each year and all those present were encouraged to wind the clock and then sign their name in the record book. The records of those fortunate enough to wind the clock date back about 200 years.


(One of the past books on the left; the one to be signed on the right)

In 1982 the Lord’s Mostyn passed the clock onto the nation and it is now housed in the British Museum. The Director and Trustees of the British Museum now invite a few people each year to a party in the Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Gallery of Clocks and Watches to both wind the clock and sign the record book.


(Guests gathered in the gallery)

This year, unexpectedly, I was invited to come along and wind the clock. I was allowed to invite one other and chose to ask ‘GregD’ to come along as he owned a Tompion pocket watch from around the same time and it seemed fitting that the pocketwatch and the clock should meet each other once again. So in the company of some of London’s ‘great and good’ we drank some wine, chatted to the assembled company, and took our turns winding the Mostyn Tompion Clock.









Tompion’s clock has been measuring the London year from Greenwich Mean Time for one year at a time for three centuries. Put it this way, if you owned a watch that needs winding once a day, then within a year you will have wound it more times than the Mostyn Tompion clock! Truly a masterpiece of a clock!

Andrew H

Thank you so much for sharing this.
It really made my evening.
Sincerely
Damjan
P.S. " Not sure what the clock was doing in the royal bedchamber"-
maybe the Queen was timing something

something!  But perhaps the King was timing the phases of the moon (if you get the idea! ).  Either way, seems a good time keeper was essential for royal happiness!

Thanks again

Andrew H

 

Thanks Andrew,

Great story, tradition and photos. So what's it like to wind? Is that a small crank handle? Does it get more difficult when it is nearly wound, and how long does it really take to fully wind?

Fascinating.

Andrew

guest had 'three clicks' on the winding.  And there were about 60 to 70 guests (guessing).  Winding was very smooth, but then the clock has been restored a number of times and is kept in good running order.  Not sure how winding was later on as Greg and myself were early in the queue.

Thanks

Andrew H

No message body

.

...and lucky GregD. His watch, of course, was the perfect piece for the occasion, but you have neglected to mention, Andrew, which piece you carried, or wore. This is meant in a most complimentary way, of course, but five bucks says that this was not an event at which to be sporting a Richard Mille!

 

Cheers,

pplater.

marvel of the age in terms of timekeeping instrument: the clock was the very latest materials and knowledge about clockmaking.  While not a racing machine on the wrist, or even the bed chamber, the use of new techniques and metals is certainly in the Richard Mille sphere.  I will leave you guessing as to which watch!

Andrew H

very grateful to Andrew for the invite.

Only in Britain...

What watch was Andrew wearing????

Glad you enjoyed the event; very envious.

 

Cheers,

pplater.

but I think it was a youngster in that company - made in the last 75 years

Fantastic post mate....I will have to see it for myself. Truly remarkable timepiece. And what a novel idea to have guest wind the clock at a year end party. Was the clock restored recently?

Best,

Horo

It is well maintained and on display at the British Museum.  Well worth a look.

Thanks

Andrew H

No message body

And how many turns are allocated to each person?

Interesting post.

Thanks.

Regards,
Richard.

full turn) and there are about 60 people or so.  So about 20 turns for the people in the room; the actual number of turns, I dont know!

Andrew H

for their idiosyncratic traditions. What a honour for a true Purist!

Best and thanks for the story,
Magnus

Thanks

Andrew H

Congratulations on being chosen! Looks like one of those one- (or none-) in a lifetime opportunities. Must have been a blast! Thanks for sharing.

Best,

Gary G

Hard to believe when winding the clock that it was 300 years old. 

Thanks for the kind words

Andrew H

Andrew,

Well, I'll be jiggered. 

Most gratifying that PuristS were represented amongst the "great and the good" 

 

It must be a tribute to the original construction and the loving caretakers 'over the centuries' (how often can one say that?) that the timepiece still needs winding 300 years later.

Even more amazing is that people still care.  Can we say the same for our current timepieces....?  I just chucked out 3 versions of the Palm PDA and am on my 4th Blackberry...sigh.

 

Regards,

MTF

 

as something that was a 'bit of a laugh', or 'was a good idea at the time' becomes a hallowed tradition and something of almost reverence.  Daft really, but a good excuse in this case to see and wind the clock.  I still marvel at the technological achievement from 3 centuries ago.

Thanks

Andrew H

I have never heard of that clock or tradition, so that was an entertaining and educational read, thanks! I must check this exhibit out the next time I am in London, assuming of course the clock is on regular display.

Best

Andreas

 

impression when we were there. Thanks for the kind words and hope you get to see the clock.

Cheers

Andrew H