News

Skeleton Clock March 2010

The coat of arms of the British Horological Institute features two lions, a boar and a unicorn, all rampant, plus an eagle on a helmet, but not a clock in sight! Someone needs a good ticking off. A member of this august institution is one Ray Bates, a Scotsman from Edinburgh: and more of this fine city later. Ray entered a five year apprenticeship with the Christie clockmaking company in Edinburgh, and it was here he learned the century-old traditions and crafts of making clocks. In 1952 he completed what is known in the apprenticeship world as his “ masterpiece”, earning him the title of Master Clockmaker, a proud moment.

An apprentice learns his or her craft by making every piece of the clock till a full working clock is created. At the end of their apprenticeship they present their masterpiece for marking. If it is approved, they become Master Clockmakers and are allowed to keep their creation.

In the Claphams National Clock Museum, down at the Town Basin, there is an apprentice skeleton clock. A skeleton clock, by definition, is designed to expose its inner workings, including what is known as a fusee movement, incorporating various gears, wheels and springs. The dial can either be clear or decorated for the hour markers. Being open to the elements, a glass dome protects the clock from dust and sticky fingers. In fact, the Clock Museum is short of glass domes and if you have a spare one in the attic, the Museum would love to hear from you.

Skeleton clocks were first made of brass dating from the 1820’s. By the 1860’s they were being mass produced in England and were very popular. For some reason skeleton clocks never bore the mark of their makers…superstition perhaps? As it is in the human psyche to “guild the lily”, skeleton clocks came in all shapes and sizes. There is one representing the seriously over the top Brighton Pavilion in England. Some had figures on the base of the clock.. In our Clock Museum there is a skeleton clock in the shape of the Scott Monument, which stands in the Princes Street Garden in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is one of the great cities of the World ( we have our own version in the name of Dunedin), and is the birthplace of Sir Walter Scott. The Victorian Gothic monument itself has an interesting and rather tragic tale. Construction began in 1841 and took nearly four years to build. The tower is 200 feet tall which you can climb to a viewing deck. The monument is built of local Binnie shale, which leaches oil! Bill Bryson in his book “ Notes from a small Island” said it looks like a gothic rocket ship! Sadly the architect George Kemp, a few months before completion, got lost in foggy “ Auld Reekie”, fell into the Union Canal and drowned. The statue of Scott himself is made from Carrara marble and shows the great man seated, quill pen in hand with his dog Maida by his side.

If the moths have eaten your kilt and you can’t make it to Edinburgh, then call down to the Claphams National Clock Museum and enjoy the miniature version.