{"id":2115,"date":"2025-12-17T12:33:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/?p=2115"},"modified":"2025-12-17T12:36:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:36:00","slug":"a-golden-day-a-private-view-of-some-of-the-worlds-most-important-clocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/2025\/12\/17\/a-golden-day-a-private-view-of-some-of-the-worlds-most-important-clocks\/","title":{"rendered":"A Golden Day \u2013 a private view of some of the world\u2019s most important clocks"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The John C\u2008Taylor Collection<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A select group of horologists had the chance to join Dr John C\u2008Taylor OBE at his Isle of Man home to view his important and unique collection of clocks and watches, many\u00a0 of which date from the \u2018golden age of clockmaking.\u2019<\/p>

John\u2019s home, Arragon Mooar, includes a purpose-built clock and watch room to house his significant collection. He was delighted to welcome Lynn and Keith Scobie-Youngs, Lewis Walduck, Andrew King and Edmond Bruce for a personal tour.<\/p>

In the last few years, John has created The Clocktime Digital Museum \u2013 which provides\u00a0 photographs and explanatory videos of his collection.This appeals to a\u00a0 broad audience, from enthusiasts through to those studying clock and watchmaking.<\/p>

It is not often that visitors are able to view the timepieces in person \u2013 so it was a great honour for the invited few.<\/p>

BWCMG\u2008Director, Lewis Walduck, a clock specialist at Bonhams, said: \u2018It was a privilege to be at the John C Taylor Collection surrounded by some of the finest clocks in the world.\u2019<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Edmond Bruce and Dr John C Taylor with the Olivewood Tompion c1673<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It has been a busy summer for Dr John C Taylor OBE, who invited a select group of friends to his home at Arragon Mooar on the Isle of Man, recently. As many previous visitors know, it includes a purpose-built clock and watch room to house his collection of antique timekeepers.<\/p>

Taking pride of place in the atrium of Arragon Mooar is the Dragon Chronophage clock, one of four made by the inventor. This is a sister to the Corpus Chronophage in Cambridge, which has become the city\u2019s most popular tourist attraction. John donated the gold-plated masterpiece to his former college, Corpus Christi. The clock features a mythical creature and a huge grasshopper escapement as a homage to his horological hero, John Harrison.<\/p>

The six strong group, which included John\u2019s daughter Dr Laura N\u2008Young MBE, admired the full replica of the Brocklesby Park turret clock, created by clockmaker Andrew King, using oak felled from the estate in which the original, made around 1722, is situated.<\/p>

Andrew, who is an expert in all things \u2018Longitude\u2019 Harrison \u2013 also created the replica Harrison Regulator, which John displayed alongside his original of the same, dated 1726. Visitors admired these timekeepers with their mesmerising grasshopper escapements.\u00a0<\/p>

John C Taylor said: \u2018King William III may have commissioned the Selby Lowndes Tompion when he fought the Battle of the Boyne on 1st July 1690, when Catholic King James II fled the field, leaving victory to the Protestants. The gilt brass finial of a Roman general may be an allegory for Victory. The case was probably designed for Tompion by Daniel Marot, King Louis XIV\u2019s Huguenot court designer.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Andrew King, Lynn Scobie-Youngs, the Brocklesby Park clock replica and Keith Scobie-Youngs. Lynn and Keith run the Cumbria Clock Company. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u2018The Spanish Tompion is a wonderful example of \u2018Badge Engineering\u2019 \u2013 the same product presented in different cases! The clock mechanism was perfected in the Selby Lowndes, followed by the Medici Tompion No 278, before being dressed further by Daniel Marot, with four clocks in similar turtleshell cases, with this one being the first,\u2019 he added.<\/p>

\u2018All of the days of the week and the strike regulation dial are engraved in Spanish and by deduction this clock was probably made for Carlos III, pretender to the Spanish throne. Ronnie Lee heard of the existence of the clock in the 1950s and spent a holiday trying to track it down. Seth Atwood then talked to Ronnie about his holiday and mounted his own search which finally led to his purchase of the clock. It had pride of place in his collection in the Rockford Time Museum.\u2019<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Senior Curator of the John C Taylor Collection, Carl Albrigt, with clock enthusiast Chris Pay admiring the inner workings of the Harrison Wooden Regulator.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lynn and Keith Scobie-Youngs, Lewis Walduck, Dr John C Taylor, Andrew King, Dr Laura Young and Edmond Bruce at Arragon Mooar <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lewis Walduck, BWCMG director and clock specialist at Bonhams said: \u2018It was a privilege to be at the John C TaylorCollection surrounded by some of the finest clocks in the world.<\/p>

\u2018One of the highlights was the exceptional Samuel Knibb Cupola table clock. Many people have heard of John and Joseph Knibb however Samuel Knibb is lesser known because he made far fewer clocks. In fact, there are only five known.<\/p>

\u2018Nobody has been able to find out where Samuel was apprenticed but he was admitted to the Clockmakers\u2019 Company in 1663\u2019, added Lewis.<\/p>

\u2018The clock is Roman striking which is a quintessential Knibb feature and it was made around 1666. If you turn the movement round and open up the back you will see it\u2019s beautifully engraved, \u2018Samuel Knibb Londini Fecit\u2019.<\/p>

\u2018It certainly made my day and it\u2019s such a pleasure to see such an outstanding and important clock\u2019, added Lewis.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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British Watch and Clock Makers Guild (BWCMG) director and Bonhams clock specialist, Lewis Walduck, admiring the Spanish Tompion No 381. c1702-4 and the Selby Lowndes Tompion No 217 c1693. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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John\u00a0 summarised: \u2018I bought my first clock in 1977, made by a John Taylor of Ormskirk and the collection has grown over the years. My collection has been a great source of pleasure, not least when sharing it with other enthusiasts. It is heartwarming to know that so many others share my passion.<\/p>

\u2018Over the last 10 years, I\u2019ve worked with an expert videographer, Glenn Whorrall, and we\u2019ve produced films where I discuss the results of my research about the pieces I\u2019ve owned,\u2019 he added.<\/p>

\u2018These have come together in the Clocktime Digital Museum, launched in 2024 as an educational platform to showcase key exhibits from my collection. It currently displays 27 different clocks and watches, all featuring detailed explanatory videos and new pieces will be added over time.\u2019<\/p>

The Clocktime Digital Museum \u2013 with its magnificent photographs and explanatory videos \u2013 appeals to a broad audience, from enthusiasts through to those studying clock and watchmaking.<\/p>

Visitors can research an extensive glossary, gain insight about historical clock and watch makers and understand key points in the development of timekeeping \u2013 clocktime.co.uk<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dr John C Taylor OBE and his daughter Dr Laura N Young MBE with the Harrison Regulator dated 1726. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In addition to the website, a six-weekly newsletter is published highlighting key educational activities, events and observations.\u00a0 Clocktime is also active on social media, in particular on Instagram @ClocktimeSocial<\/a> and LinkedIn @ClocktimeDigital<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lewis Walduck with the Samuel Knibb cupola table clock, c 1665-7.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The John C\u2008Taylor Collection A select group of horologists had the chance to join Dr John C\u2008Taylor OBE at his Isle of Man home to view his important and unique collection of clocks and watches, many\u00a0 of which date from the \u2018golden age of clockmaking.\u2019 John\u2019s home, Arragon Mooar, includes a purpose-built clock and watch […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2115"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2134,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115\/revisions\/2134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}