Brian Loomes is a horological historian, genealogist, and a prolific
author and best-known expert on British clocks. As Britain's
longest-established clock dealer, his name is known by everyone
connected with antique clocks.
Through his own original research in ancient records into the life and
work of clockmakers he has compiled thirty reference books and hundreds
of articles about antique British clocks and their makers. Several of
them have become definitive texts and are used as standard reference
books by museums, libraries, auction houses and collectors the world
over. So much so that even many of the terms today in general use to
describe certain types of clock features were first coined in these
books.
Brian Loomes is not a watchmaker by trade, but our young apprentices are
expected to immerse themselves into the work of Loomes, discover his
style, methodology, attention to detail, and relentless pursuit of
penning down horological history which would otherwise remain
unpreserved.
This week we are studying ‘The Concise Guide to British Clocks’, and our
apprentices are required to write down technical words and terms they
have not heard before. We discuss them the following day, and we learn
together.
The first four words we discussed yesterday were:
Fusee
Hood pillar
Spandrels
Foliot
(These were Chloe's picks)
Do you know what these terms refer to, without looking them up? I have to admit, I tripped up on 'spandrels'
and had to ask Bobby to look it up for us. Not to make any excuses, but
if the word had been in context, I am sure I would have worked it out.
If you too are struggling to work it out then here is a tip- there are four on the dial of a traditional English long case clock.
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