Clock Repair Ltd Antique & quality modern clock repair & restoration

Origins of Atmos clocks living on air!

In the late 1920s Jean-Leon Reutter, a young Paris engineer, experimented with a clock that needed no direct mechanical or electrical intervention to keep it wound, in short a clock powered only by Perpetual Motion.

For centuries, many scientist including Leonardo Da Vinci had experimented with the idea of Perpetual Motion - however, only J.L. Reutter eventually succeeded at incorporating that novel idea into an actual working clock.

Through out his life, J.L. Reutter's dream of a Perpetual Motion timepiece led him to produce a clock with a timekeeping mechanism designed specifically to consume the smallest possible amount of power to keep the clock running satisfactorily.

After studying the design of the 400-Day Anniversary Clock -which was very popular during that era - Reutter made significant changes to that concept, to meet the small input power requirement he was looking for in his new clock design.

Reutters modifications of the 400-Day Clock included changes to the escapement leverage to reduce the arc of the escapement as well as adding jewels to the bearings of the movement. His new clock ran safely and most importantly very reliably.

His new clock design included a special device that would power his clock independently, using a substance that would react to the most sensitive changes in temperature and atmospheric conditions. That substance was mercury. He also designed a special glass tube similar to that of a thermometer for the mercury and encased it all inside a metal cylinder, which is now known as the Bellows.

The result of Reutters achievement was an ingenious new clock unlike any other, past or present. A timepiece that could run independently and continuously and so incredibly sensitive, that it could be rewound by the slightest fluctuations in the atmosphere, or by the slightest changes in temperature, hence the name: "Atmos Clock".

Later, due to dangers in handling and instability, the mercury in the Bellows that powered the Atmos Clock was changed to a special more stable saturated gas, known scientifically as 'Ethyl Chloride'. The technological concept of the Gas filled Atmos Bellows is a remarkable one: Inside a sealed capsule, a mixture of gas and liquid expands as the temperature rises and contracts as it falls, moving the capsule back and forth like a tiny unseen accordion. This motion is used to constantly wind the mainspring thus enabling the clock to run and keep perfect time. A small temperature variation of just one degree is sufficient for over two day's operation. Such variation occurs naturally in normal room temperature and thus without any additional sources of energy, the Atmos clock will continue to run if left untouched, "forever". Hence the term: "Living On Air".

Origin of Grandfather Clocks

In 1656 a Dutchman named Christian Huygens was the first person to use a pendulum, as a driving device, in clocks. This was the birth of the Grandfather clock or, to use the correct terminology, Long Case clock.

The first Long Case Clocks were produced in Britain, after the London clock maker Ahasuerus Fromenteel sent his son to Holland to learn about the use of a pendulum.

For the first 15 years clock makers struggled to develop a pendulum device capable of keep accurate time. By 1670 an anchor escapement had been developed, that when used in conjunction with a pendulum great accuracy could be achieved. This development ensured that history would remember Britain as the dominating producer in the world of clock making. Names such as Joseph Knibb, Thomas Tompian, George Graham, and Daniel Quare all come to mind when discussing the history of Long Case Clocks.

The earliest cases were made from oak and were architectural in appearance. Higher quality clocks would be finished with ebony or pearwood.

Later cases were made from high quality African mahogany. Today, beautiful examples of what is called "flame mahogany" can also be seen.

Early dials were square and made of brass. In 1772 Osborn & Wilson, from Birmingham, introduced the white dial. These early dials had simple decorations, such as birds or strawberries. By 1830 small painted scenes, in the corners and arch, were depicted on dials.

Clock And Watchmakers of Manchester

We have a working knowlage of over 600!!! Manchester watch and clockmakers that opperated over the years listed below.

Abbott, Francis of Derby, Manchester and Hobart, Tasmania.

Abel & Katz of Manchester.

Abrahams, Isaac of Manchester.

Abrahams, Phineas of Manchester.

Abyssinian Gold Jewellery Co. Ltd. of Manchester.

Acton, Benjamin of Manchester.

Adamson, James of Manchester.

Ainsworth, William of Manchester.

Aitchison, William of Manchester.

Albiez, Robert of Manchester.

Alderson, William H. of Manchester.

Anglo-American Watch Co. of Manchester.

Armstrong, Robert of Manchester.

Armstrong, Thomas & Brother of Manchester.

Armstrong, Thomas of Manchester.

Arnold & Lewis of Manchester.

Ashcroft, Francis of Manchester.

Ashworth, John & Co. of Manchester.

Ashworth, Peter of Manchester.

Ashworth, Richard of Manchester.

Astbury, William Henry of Manchester.

Bailey, Charles of Manchester.

Baldwin, Henry H. of Manchester.

Ball, William of Manchester.

Barker, Charles of Manchester.

Barlow, Richard of Manchester.

Barnes, Charles Frederick of Manchester.

Barnes, Richard of Manchester.

Barton, John of Manchester.

Barton, Thomas of Manchester.

Batty, William (& Sons) of Manchester & Liverpool.

Beaumont, Samuel of Manchester.

Beaver, Louis of Manchester.

Beaver, Marcus of Manchester.

Beesley, James of Manchester.

Bell, John of Manchester.

Bernstein, H of Manchester.

Berrisford, James of Manchester.

Berry, Josiah of Manchester.

Bibby, John of Manchester.

Binks, John of Manchester.

Birchall, Robert of Pendleton, Manchester.

Birchall, William of Manchester.

Birckley, Frederick of Manchester.

Blakeley, John of Manchester.

Boddington, Henry Charles of Manchester.

Booth, George of Manchester.

Booth, J.B. of Manchester.

Bottomley, James Cocker of Manchester.

Boughey, Arthur of Manchester.

Bowler, Joseph of Manchester.

Boyd, John & Co. of Manchester.

Brackenridge, James Charles of Manchester.

Braddock, John of Manchester.

Bradley, Harry Bridges of Manchester.

Bradley, John of Manchester.

Bradley, William of Manchester.

Bradley. John of Manchester.

Bradshaw, John of Manchester.

Braham, William T. of Hulme, Manchester.

Braham, William T. of Manchester.

Bramhall, Isabella of Manchester.

Brash, Isaac of Manchester.

Bratt, Nathan of Manchester.

Bratt, William of Manchester

Brearley Brothers of Manchester.

Brearley, Lewis of Manchester.

Briggs, William of Manchester.

Brown, Edward of Manchester.

Brown, Thomas of Manchester.

Brown,Nathaniel of Manchester.

Browne, Joseph of Manchester.

Bruce, Alexander of Manchester.

Bunyan, Thomas of Manchester.

Burbidge, Elizabeth of Manchester.

Burbidge, Joseph of Manchester.

Burman, Samuel of Manchester.

Burrow, Henry of Manchester.

Caltenbach, Carl of Manchester.

Carnegie, James of Manchester.

Carpenter, William of Manchester.

Carson & Muter of Manchester.

Carson, Alexander of Manchester.

Carson, James of Manchester.

Carson, Samuel of Manchester.

Cass, Jacob of Manchester.

Castle, George M. of Manchester.

Cato & Co. of Manchester.

Chamberlain, James of Manchester.

Chamberlain, Mrs. Mary Ann of Manchester.

Chester, William H of Manchester.

Clare, Peter of Manchester.

Clarke, Alfred of Manchester.

Clayton, Martin of Manchester.

Clegg, Daniel of Manchester.

Clegg, James of Manchester.

Clegg, William of Manchester.

Clement, J of Manchester.

Clement, John of Manchester.

Clough, John Arthur of Manchester.

Cohen, A of Manchester.

Cohen, Jacob of Manchester.

Cohen, Joel of Manchester.

Cohen, John of Manchester.

Cohen, Meyer of Manchester.

Cohen, Solomon of Manchester.

Coleman, Mrs of Manchester.

Cook, Matthew of Manchester.

Cooke, Henry of Manchester.

Cooper, E of Manchester.

Copeland, Robert of Manchester.

Coughiu, James of Manchester.

Coupe, Thomas of Manchester.

Cowen, David of Manchester.

Cowen, M & Co. of Manchester.

Cowen, W.M & Co. of Manchester.

Cowley, John Q. of Manchester.

Cresswell, Edmund of Manchester.

Cronney, Henry of Manchester.

Cross, Herbert of Manchester.

Cross, William of Manchester

Crossley, Catherine of Manchester.

Crossley, Henry of Manchester.

Crowther, James Walter of Manchester.

Crowther, Joseph of Manchester.

Cumberbirch& Dutton of Manchester.

Cumberbirch, James of Manchester.

Cunningham, J.M. of Manchester.

Cunningham, Robert W. of Manchester.

Cunningham, Robert William of Manchester.

Dalby, Arthur H. & Son of Manchester.

Davenport, J.W. of Manchester.

Davey, James of Manchester.

Davidson, F.H. of Manchester.

Davies, John of Manchester.

Dearden, Charles of Manchester.

Debney, James of Manchester.

Dewsnap, George of Manchester.

Dodge & Co. of Manchester.

Dodge, W & M. of Manchester.

Dold, George of Manchester.

Dore, Henry of Manchester.

Downing, David W. of Manchester.

Draper, Henry of Manchester.

Drescher, Simon of Manchester.

Dresser, Herbert B. of Manchester.

Drinkwater, Charles of Manchester.

Duff, John of Manchester.

Duffner, Edmund of Manchester.

Duke, James of Manchester.

Dutton, George S. of Manchester.

Dutton, James of Manchester.

Dutton, William of Manchester.

Dyson, Humphrey of Manchester.

Eckersley, Mrs. Sarah of Manchester.

Edwards, Walter of Manchester.

Eisen, Arthur of Manchester.

Elkington of Manchester Elleby,

Robert James of Manchester.

English Mary of Manchester.

Evans, Joseph Thomas of Manchester.

Falk, David of Manchester.

Fall, Richard of Manchester.

Fallows, John Baptist of Manchester.

Fawsitt, Thomas of Manchester.

Fells, Robert of Manchester.

Ferran, W.M. of Manchester

Fielding, Walter of Manchester.

Fisher, Richard of Manchester

Flitcroft, Joseph of Manchester.

Fodem, Edward Rothwell of Manchester. .

Fort, John W. of Manchester.

Foster, Henry of Manchester.

Foster, John & Thomas of Manchester.

Foster, John of Manchester.

Franklin, Abraham (& Co.) of Manchester.

Franklin, Abraham of Manchester.

Freud, Philipp of Manchester.

Furniss, James Frost of Manchester.

Furniss, Micah of Manchester.

Furnival, Joseph Alexander of Manchester.

Furnivel, Joseph A. of Manchester.

Ganter, Matthew of Manchester.

Gardner, John of Manchester.

Gardner, William of Manchester.

Garnett, James of Manchester.

Garside, Samuel of Manchester.

Gent, William of Manchester.

Gibson, William of Manchester.

Gill, John of Manchester.

Gillings, James of Manchester.

Glatz&Wunderley of Manchester.

Glatz, Joseph of Manchester.

Gledhill, Richard of Manchester.

Glodt, David of Manchester.

Glover, Joseph of Manchester.

Glue, David of Manchester

Goldberg, Kiva of Manchester.

Goldstone, Sampson of Manchester

Gooch, Norton of Manchester.

Gooddwin, William of Manchester.

Goodman Brothers of Manchester.

Goodman, S. of Manchester.

Goodwin, Horatio R. jun. of Manchester.

Goodwin, Horatio R. of Manchester.

Goodwin, John of Manchester.

Gough & Co. of Manchester.

Grainge, James of Manchester.

Greenfield, Robert Clark of Manchester.

Greenhalgh, John of Manchester.

Griffiths, Alfred of Manchester.

Griffiths, Thomas G. of Manchester.

Grooms, Joseph of Manchester.

Grooms, William Dockett of Manchester.

Gutteridge, R of Godmanchester, Huntingdon.

Hague, Joseph H. of Manchester.

Haigh, Abraham of Manchester.

Hall, John & Co. of Manchester.

Hall, Jonathan of Manchester.

Hall, Jonthn. of Manchester.

Hall, Joseph & Co. of Manchester.

Hall, Joseph of Manchester.

Hall, William L. of Manchester.

Hall, William of Manchester.

Hammond, George & Son of Manchester.

Hammond, John of Manchester.

Hammond, Thomas & George & Thomas of Manchester.

Hammond, Thomas of Manchester.

Hampson&Thelwell of Manchester.

Hampson, Robert of Manchester.

Hancock, Joseph of Manchester.

Hancock, Josiah & Son of Manchester.

Hanger, Henry of Manchester.

Hardcastle, William of Manchester.

Hardie& Christie - clock dial maker of Manchester.

Hardisty, Jonathan L. of Manchester

Hardman, Thomas of Manchester.

Harris & Sons of Manchester.

Harris, Henry James of Manchester.

Harris, Henry James of Pendleton, Manchester.

Harris, Josiah of Manchester.

Harrison, James of Manchester.

Hartley, Elizabeth of Manchester.

Hartley, Thomas William of Manchester.

Hawkes, Alfred of Manchester.

Haydock, Joseph Eli of Manchester.

Hayward, Thomas of Manchester.

Haywood, David of Manchester.

Healey, Thomas of Manchester.

Heap, Thomas of Manchester.

Hemingway, John of Manchester.

Henderson, John H. of Manchester.

Henderson, Matthew of Manchester.

Hendrick, John of Manchester.

Herman, Joseph of Manchester.

Hibbert, Henry of Manchester.

Hibbert, Isaac of Manchester.

Hickton, Samuel of Manchester.

Hilsbach, Henry of Manchester.

Hobbins, Henry of Manchester.

Hoch, Felix of Manchester.

Hodgson, Walter of Manchester.

Hoffenberg, B. of Manchester.

Hogg & Shaw of Manchester.

Holden, John of Manchester.

Holt, George of Moss Side, Manchester.

Hope, John Lawton of Strangeways, Manchester.

Hopley,James of Manchester.

Howard, James of Manchester.

Howard, John of Manchester.

Huckbody, Walter of Manchester.

Hudson, George of Manchester

Hughes, Charles of Manchester.

Hughes, Thomas Roger of Manchester.

Hull Brothers of Manchester.

Hulme, Thomas of Manchester.

Hulse, Henry of Manchester.

Hunt, William of Manchester.

Hyam, D & M. of Manchester.

Imbery, Charles of Manchester.

Imbery, Otto of Hulme, Manchester.

Inglish, Mary of Manchester.

Isaacs, Alexander of Manchester.

Isaacs, Solomon of Manchester.

Jackson, Alexander of Manchester.

Jacob, Henry of Manchester.

Jacobs, Eli of Cheetham, Manchester.

Jacobs, Eli of Manchester.

Jagger, Richard of Manchester.

Jeffries, Joseph of Hulme, Manchester.

Jeffries, Mrs. Mary Ann of Manchester.

Jepson, Walter F. of Manchester.

Jessop, George of Manchester.

Johnson, Herbert of Manchester.

Johnson, Thomas of Manchester.

Johnson, William B. of Manchester.

Jones, John of Manchester.

Jones, Thomas of Hulme, Manchester.

Jordan/Jordon, John of Manchester.

Joyce, Thomas P. of Hulme, Manchester.

Joyce, Thomas P. of Manchester.

Joyce, Thomas Price of Manchester.

Kauffman, H of Manchester .

Kay, John of Manchester.

Kay, Samuel of Manchester.

Keifer, Fidelous of Manchester.

Kemshead& Son of Manchester.

Kemshead, Robert & Son of Manchester.

Kemshead, Widow of Manchester.

Kent, John of Manchester.

Kent, William Worsley of Manchester.

Kenyon, Laurence of Manchester.

Kilham, John Henry of Hulme, Manchester.

Killen, Henry of Manchester.

Kilner, Charles Henry of Manchester.

Kingerley, John of Manchester.

Kingston, Thomas of Manchester.

Knight, L.S.& Coe of Manchester.

Knight, Lewis S. of Manchester.

Knight, Thomas of Manchester.

Knowles, Edmund of Hulme, Manchester.

Knowles, George of Manchester.

Lacey, Thomas of Manchester.

Lacker, Michael of Manchester.

Laing & Barton of Manchester.

Laing &Stowell of Manchester.

Lake, Edmund E. of Manchester.

Lazarus, L. of Manchester.

Lazarus, Mark of Manchester.

Leadbeater, John of Hulme, Manchester.

Leadbetter, Mrs. Alice of Manchester.

Lee, Mark of Manchester.

Lee, Michael of Manchester.

Lees, Thomas of Hulme, Manchester.

Lees, Thomas of Manchester.

Lepp, John of Manchester.

Levy, Henry & Co. of Manchester.

Levy, Morris of Manchester.

Lewis, George of Manchester.

Lieberman, Isidor of Manchester.

Light, Henry of Manchester.

Lloyd, Payne &Amiel of Manchester.

Lloyd, Payne, &Amiel of Manchester

Lofthouse, B. of Manchester.

Lomax, John & Son of Manchester.

Longmore, William of Manchester.

Lord, Henry of Liverpool and Manchester.

Lowe, George Cliff of Manchester.

Lowry, James of Manchester.

Lyon, Edward of Manchester.

Lyon, Henry of Manchester.

M'Lardy, Samuel & Co. of Manchester.

Makin, George & Son of Manchester.

Manchester, Thomas of Bolton.

Mansel, Thomas of Manchester.

Marks, A. & Co. of Manchester.

Marshall, Edwin of Manchester.

Martin, Thomas of Manchester.

Masper, Charles of Manchester.

Mather, Walter of Manchester.

Mawdsley, John of Manchester.

Mayer, N. & Son of Manchester.

Mayer, Nathan of Manchester.

Mayer, Saul of Manchester.

Mayo, William & Son of Manchester.

Mayo, William of Manchester.

McCall, George of Manchester.

McCall, James of Manchester.

McConnell, Ira of Manchester.

McConnell, James of Manchester.

McCreesh, John of Manchester.

McCulloch, Edgar Thomas of Manchester.

McElroy, William of Manchester.

McFerran, William of Manchester.

McKellen, Samuel D. of Manchester.

McLardy, Makin & Smith of Manchester.

Mellor, John of Manchester.

Mendelson, Henry of Manchester.

Mentha, Fritz of Manchester.

Meyer, Elias of Manchester.

Meyer, Samuel of Manchester.

Michaels, Abraham of Manchester.

Michaels, Maurice A. of Manchester

Michaelson, David of Manchester.

Miller, Thomas of Salford & Manchester.

Millward, Joseph S. of Manchester.

Milnes, George of Manchester.

Minikin, Thomas of Manchester.

Mitchell, Isaac of Manchester.

Morgan, Thomas of Manchester.

Morris, James of Manchester.

Morton, Thomas of Manchester.

Moss, William S. of Manchester.

Moss, William Selby of Manchester.

Myers, Joseph of Manchester.

Mylrea, Basil of Hulme, Manchester.

Mylrea, Basil of Manchester.

Mylrea, Edward A. of Manchester.

Nathan, Asher of Manchester.

Nathan, Elias of Manchester.

Nathan, L&J of Manchester.

Neal, William of Manchester.

Nelson, Charles of Manchester.

Nelson, Robert of Manchester.

Newton, Thomas of Manchester.

Nightingale & Davies of Manchester.

Nokes, John of Hulme, Manchester.

Norcross, Frank. of Manchester.

O'Connor, Timothy of Manchester.

Oakden, Thomas of Pendleton, Manchester.

Oberle, Adolph of Manchester.

Oberle, Otto of Manchester.

Oberle, Paul of Manchester.

Ollivant&Botsford of Manchester.

Ollivant, J.T. & J. of Manchester.

Ollivant, Thomas & John of Manchester.

Orme, Henry of Manchester.

Ousey, Frank of Manchester.

Oxley, Edwin J. of Manchester.

Panter, Frank of Manchester.

Parker, William of Manchester.

Partington, Joseph of Manchester.

Patterson, James of Manchester.

Pendergast, William of Manchester.

Pendlebury, James T. of Manchester.

Pennington, Francis of Manchester.

Perks, Harry of Manchester.

Perry, Robert W. of Manchester.

Pick, Blomfield of Manchester.

Pidduck, Henry & Sons of Manchester.

Pidduck, W.B. of Manchester.

Pike, Edward of Manchester.

Pilling, Alfred of Manchester.

Pipe, Isaac & William of Manchester.

Plant, William of Manchester .

Platt, George of Manchester.

Podmore, Thomas William of Manchester.

Pollitt, Joseph F. of Hulme, Manchester.

Pomfrith, Horatio of Manchester.

Pomfritt, Alfred of Manchester.

Pomfritt, Horatio of Manchester.

Potter, Richard of Manchester.

Powell, John of Manchester.

Powell, P.G. of Manchester.

Powell, Philip G. of Manchester.

Pownall, James of Hulme, Manchester.

Pownall, James of Manchester.

Price, Nathaniel of Hulme, Manchester.

Price, Nathaniel of Manchester.

Price, Robert of Manchester.

Pridham, Arthur W. of Manchester.

Rayner, William of Manchester.

Read, William of Hulme, Manchester.

Read, William of Manchester.

Reece, Alfred of Manchester.

Rennie, William & Co. of Manchester.

Rhind, James of Manchester.

Rhodes, James W. of Manchester.

Rhodes, John of Manchester.

Rhodes, Richard of Manchester.

Richards, John of Manchester.

Richards, Thomas of Manchester.

Richardson, Henry of Manchester.

Richardson, John of Manchester.

Richardson, Mrs. Catherine of Manchester

Richardson, Thomas of Manchester.

Rider, Tyrell of Manchester and Preston.

Riegger, Otto of Manchester.

Robertshaw, John Jnr of Manchester.

Robertshaw, John of Manchester.

Robertson, John of Manchester.

Robertson, Joseph of Manchester.

Robinson, Benjamin of Salford, Manchester.

Robinson, John of Manchester.

Rodger, Aldred M. of Manchester.

Rogers, Thomas of Manchester.

Rolez, Jules of Manchester.

Rosenfeld, Jacob of Manchester.

Rosenthal, Joseph of Manchester.

Rowlands, William of Manchester.

Rowley, William of Manchester.

Russells Lim of Manchester.

Ryall, Thomas of Manchester.

Ryan &Walkden of Manchester.

Samuel, Edgar of Manchester.

Samuel, H. of Manchester.

Scales, Edward of Manchester and Hulme

Scales, Joseph of Manchester

Scales, Joshua of Manchester

Scales, Mary of Manchester

Scales, William of Manchester and Salford

Scott, Joseph of Manchester.

Sears, William of Manchester.

Seddon, Henry William of Manchester.

Seddon, Mary of Manchester.

Seddon, William of Hulme, Manchester.

Seffler, Charles of Manchester.

Shackleton, Jno of Manchester.

Sharples, Henry of Manchester.

Sharples, Joseph William of Manchester.

Shenfield, John of Manchester

Shepley, John of Manchester.

Shirton, John Caspar of Manchester

Shoeps Brothers of Manchester.

Shorrock, William of Pendleton, Manchester

Simcock, John of Manchester.

Simmons, Isaac of Manchester.

Smith, John of Hulme, Manchester

Smith, John of Manchester.

Smith, William of Manchester.

Spencer, Thomas of Manchester.

Spreat, John Henry of Manchester.

Stackhouse, Richard of Hulme, Manchester.

Standring, Samuel of Manchester.

Stanley, John T. of Manchester.

Stanley, John of Manchester.

Stanley, William of Manchester.

Stearns, Henry of Manchester

Steel, Abraham of Manchester

Stern, Jacob of Manchester.

Sternberg Brothers of Manchester.

Sternberg, Nathan of Manchester.

Stevens, Alfred A. of Manchester.

Stone, Robert & Son of Manchester.

Sykes, David & Co. of Manchester.

Taft, Herbert E. of Manchester.

Tate, William of Manchester.

Taylor, James of Manchester.

Taylor, John of Manchester.

Taylor, Miss Jeannie of Manchester

Taylor, Robert Henry of Manchester

Taylor, Thomas of Manchester.

Temple, Solomon of Manchester.

Terry, Thomas of Manchester.

Terry, W. & F. of Manchester.

Terry, William & Francis of Hulme, Manchester.

Thelwall, Charles John of Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.

Thelwell, Richard of Manchester.

Titley, C. & Co, of Manchester Titley, C. & Co. of Manchester.

Torkington, W.H. of Manchester.

Townend, Alfred of Manchester.

Townley, Thomas E. of Manchester.

Tumbleton, John of Manchester.

Turnbull & Bunyan of Manchester.

Turnbull, John S. of Manchester.

Turner, John of Manchester

Turton, Nathaniel of Manchester.

Wade, George of Manchester.

Walbrook, Ernest of Manchester.

Walker, Christopher of Manchester.

Walker, George of Manchester.

Walker, Thomas of Manchester.

Walmsley, Edward of Manchester.

Walmsley, Robert of Manchester.

Walter, John of Manchester.

Walter, Joseph of Manchester.

Ward, Charles of Manchester.

Warmisham, John of Hulme, Manchester.

Warmisham, John of Manchester.

Warmisham, William of Manchester.

Warner, Tom of Manchester.

Warrington, Thomas of Manchester.

Waterfall, A. & Co. of Manchester.

Waterhouse, Joseph of Manchester.

Watson, John of Manchester.

Webster, John of Manchester.

West, James of Manchester.

Whalley, Samuel of Manchester

White, Anthony of Manchester.

White, Henry of Manchester.

Whitehead, William of Manchester.

Whiteley, Mrs. Harriet of Manchester.

Whitmore, Henry of Manchester.

Whitmore, M & Son of Manchester.

Whittaker, William of Manchester.

Whittington, Henry of Manchester.

Whittington, Joseph C. of Manchester.

Wholesale Supply Co. (Lever & Co.) of Manchester.

Wilkinson, James of Manchester.

Willard, Jonas & Co. of Manchester.

Williams, James W. of Hulme, Manchester.

Williams, John of Manchester.

Williams, Robert of Manchester.

Williams, William of Radcliffe, Bury, Manchester.

Wilson, John of Manchester.

Wilson, Thomas of Manchester.

Wilson, William of Manchester.

Winn, George of Manchester.

Wiright, William Henry of Manchester.

Wise, Emanuel of Manchester.

Withnall, Samuel of Manchester.

Wolfe, Henry of Manchester.

Wood, Henry of Manchester.

Wood, John Bolton of Hulme, Manchester.

Wood, Joseph F. of Hulme, Manchester.

Wood, Joseph F. of Manchester.

Woodd, Joseph of Manchester.

Woodhouse, Matthew H. of Manchester.

Wooton, John of Manchester.

Wright, James of Manchester.

Wright, John of Manchester.

Wright, L.J. & Co. of Manchester.

Wright, Robert of Manchester.

Wulfson, Lewis of Manchester

Wyatt, Lewis of Manchester.

Yarndley, Charles of Manchester.

Yeomans, Edward of Salford and Manchester

Yeomans, James of Manchester.

Zobin, Ellis of Manchester.

Manchesters Own Barometer Maker

Giovanni Battista Ronchetti ('Baptist')

Baptist Ronchetti emigrated from the village of Tavernerio, near Lake Como in Italy, and

came to Manchester in about 1790. He set up a business as a weather glass or

barometer manufacturer at 15, High Street. In the first few years of the nineteenth

century, he moved to 51, Spear Street, an address which appears on barometers signed

by other Italian migrants. This communal location may have reduced the makers' costs

and so made it easier for them to work in Manchester during the difficult depression years.

In about 1805, Ronchetti sent to Italy for his son Charles Joshua, then aged about 15, and

his relative, Luigi Antonio Casartelli 'Louis'. Little is known of the three men's

movements for the next 10 years. However, Charles Joshua left Manchester, probably

because of the lack of business. In about 1811, he married Frances Whitworth, the

daughter of an excise officer of Bury, and their first son, John Baptist, was born a year

later. The couple then moved to Liverpool where Charles Joshua set up a business in

about 1814. Meanwhile, Baptist Ronchetti had retired to Italy and his business had been taken over by Louis.We are please to have a Baptist barometer for restoration and when completed this very spacial and historic barometer will be offerd for sale soon!

Atmos Clocks For Pesidents Prime minsters and Kings

Your home is already beautiful, but for those looking to give it a real edge, consider the role time plays in it. You look at the clock when you get up in the morning, get ready for work, put the kids to bed at night and so much more than you realize.

While a clock is not a necessary item in today’s digital world, it is a functional piece of art and décor – especially when selected wisely. For centuries, people’s homes have been measured as standards of elegance and stature based on the clocks that resided therein. From table clocks to grandfather clocks and eventually wall clocks, time is a statement in taste as well as punctuality.

One superb statement maker today is the Atmos Clock from Jaeger-LeCoultre. Back in 1928, the Atmos clock was first introduced to the market as a revolutionary timepiece. The concept behind it – the clock could run without needing to be set or managed after its initial setting thanks to the fact that it is regulated by minuscule changes in temperature. Developed by engineer Jean-Leon Reutter, the Atmos clock and was immediately embraced by the luxury watch brand Jaeger-LeCoutlre, which purchased the design and made what is now an iconic collection.

Today, the Atmos clock essentially works on the same principal. Some say it runs on air, but the reality is that the mechanism is driven by tiny successive changes in temperature thanks to a hermetically sealed capsule that holds a gaseous mixture that dilates when the temperature rises and contracts when it cools. The capsule, working in tandem with the clock’s mainspring, winds the barrel with each atmosphere change. Just a single degree temperature change will power the clock for 48 hours.

So coveted is the Atmos – an environmentally friendly clock—that it has been gifted to US presidents and global diplomats such as President John F. Kennedy, Sir Winston Churchill, General Charles De Gaulle, President Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, King Hussein of Jordan by Jaeger-LeCoutre.

Lurgan Grandfather Clock Restoration

To everyone at Clock Repair Ltd

Wendy and I wish to let you know how delighted we are with the restoration of her grand father clock.

It had not worked for almost twenty years.

The workmanship is exquisite, and it now looks and sounds as she remembers it from her childhood.

Thanks for all your help

Kind Regards

Roy & Wendy Pierce

A Rare John Barnish Of Rochdale Clock For Sale

John Barnish Of Rochdale

Circa 1785

dial restorer

We are currently restoring this clock for sale, should

you like to express an interest please click on the

email link below.

Barnish, William of Rochdale. This clockmaker was born there in about 1734 and died there in 1776 at the age of only 42. He made a number of longcase clocks, both thirty hour and eight day. There was a John Barnish, also a clockmaker working in Rochdale and is probably the son of William. John was born in 1760, and took over his father's business, he was working from at least 1785 and he made numerous longcase clocks ( 30 hour and 8 day). He also made a two tune musical thirty hour with a white dial in 1785. John died in 1829.
There was possibly another son - Charles born in 1775 and died in 1812.

Known Published Photos or articles

Please note that due to British copyright laws, we are not able to show any photos or articles mentioned below. However, the books etc
should be available for order from your local library or see Links page for details of places to obtain copies of the sources listed below)

Grandfather Clocks and their cases, pp156 has a picture of a John Barnish longcase clock c 1780 Longcase Painted Dials, pp63 has a picture of a humorous clock dial made for the Barnish family Clocks Magazine, vol. 16, no.12 pp20 has an article "An original answer to a Moon-Drive Problem" by Peter England which shows a Jno. Barnish Rochdale clock.

Sources

Brian Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers Of The World Vol 2 (2nd Edition), Pub NAG Press 1989 ISBN 0 7198 0250 4

Brian Loomes, Grandfather Clocks and their cases, Pub Bracken Books 1985 ISBN 1 85170 376 4

Brian Loomes, Lancashire Clocks and Clockmakers, Pub David & Charles 1975 ISBN 0 7153 6917 2

Brian Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers Of The World Complete 21st Century Edition, Pub NAG ISBN-13:978-0-7198-0330-7

M F Tennant, Longcase Painted Dials, Pub Nag Press 1995 ISBN 0 7198 0260 1

Clocks Magazine, Pub Splat Publishing (www.clocksmagazine.com)

Antique clock restoration a heartfelt commendation

Having now lived with my clock for 2 weeks since you returned it I just thought I'd update you.

It is great to hear the steady measured tick and with a tiny adjustment from your workshop settings, re different ambient temperature, time keeping is spot on. Apart from your excellent renovation of the mechanics you have breathed new life into the woodwork and your replacement of the missing bit of fretwork is unbelievably good.

Family and friends are also amazed and delighted with your transformation. I have entered a heartfelt commendation on Touch Local and confirm that I am very happy to be used as a reference for any potential customers.

Mr Bullock, Frodsham

Stolen clock returned

Sir Ferrers Vyvyan with the clock mechanism

Sir Ferrers Vyvyan said the mechanism was recognised instantly

A 250-year-old clock mechanism has been returned to its home in Cornwall after being found by chance nearly 40 years after it was stolen.

The mechanism, which was built in Truro in 1757, disappeared in 1972 from the tower on the stable block on the Trelowarren Estate on the Lizard.

It was found after a relative of the estate's present owners spotted it in a shop in Belgium.

The mechanism has been put on display on the estate.

Handle recognised

Estate owner Sir Ferrers Vyvyan said his sister recognised the mechanism immediately when she saw it in Brussels.

He said: "As soon as she saw the finials [decorative points at the top of the mechanism] and she saw the handle, she knew it was the real clock."

After some detective work, Sir Ferrers' aunt, Virginia Redrupp, talked to the shop owner and showed him some photographs she had found to show where the timepiece, the value of which has not been revealed, had come from.

Ms Redrupp said: "We went to Brussels and showed it to the man who had the clock and he instantly said 'that is a photograph of this clock'.

"His reaction was that the clock must go back to where it came from."

The tower the clock mechanism was housed in has recently been restored, but the clock itself currently runs on an electric mechanism.

Seth Thomas

Seth Thomas was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, in 1785. He became an expert carpenter. At 22 years old, he went to work for clockmaker Eli Terry in Northbury, Connecticut. He took to the art of clockmaking and prospered, so much so that in 1810 he bought out Terry's factory with a partner. Three years later he bought out another clockmaking business in Plymouth Hollow and relocated. He began making clocks under the Seth Thomas name, priding himself on the quality of his work. Seth Thomas clocks soon became known all over the country for their quality and high level of craftsmanship. Initially, Thomas continued to make tall wall clocks with wooden movements and swinging pendulums, but in 1817 he shifted focus to wooden movement shelf clocks housed in pillar and scroll cases. In 1842 brass movements were introduced and by 1845 wooden movements were phased out completely.

The Seth Thomas Clock Company

In 1853 Seth Thomas incorporated the Seth Thomas Clock Company "so that the business would outlive him," according to ClockHistory.com. Thomas died six years later, and the town of Plymouth Hollow was renamed Thomaston in his honor. After Thomas' death many new styles of clocks were launched by the company he had founded, based on patterns and machinery purchased in 1859 from the creditors of Silas B. Terry, another clockmaker, who had gone bankrupt. Spring-driven clocks were introduced by Seth Thomas in the 1860s; three years later the company also began making perpetual calendar clocks. Subsequent models included walnut kitchen clocks, marble clocks, black wood mantel clocks and chime clocks, the latter introduced in 1909. Electric clocks were developed in the 1920s, and Seth Thomas them introduced in 1928. One of the most famous clocks in the world, the four-faced clock in New York City's Grand Central Terminal, was made by Seth Thomas.

A fine quality mercury stick barometer for sale by John Cail of Newcastle

A Oak Stick Barometer by John Cail, Newcastle, Circa 1840

A ivory scale with vernier and signed Cail, Newcastle, the case with arched top and glazed scale, exposed tube, mercury thermometer with ivory scale, the half-turned cistern cover with ivory float in exemplory condition.

It is exceptionally rare to find pieces by John Cail. They are of very high quality but quite scarce. He worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1825 until 1865 from four different locations during that period.

For Sale

A fine example of a John Cail of Newcastle

stick barometer circa 1840

£1195

John Ellicot Clock And Watchmaker

1706 London - 1772 he was an eminent English clock and watchmaker of the 18th century. His father, a Cornishman, John Ellicott -1733, was also a clockmaker John Ellicott jnr conducted business first from Austin Friars Street EC2 and later from Swithin’s Alley London.

Famous Manchester Barometer For Restoration