Geoff saw great potential in Patrick, and he offered him a full-time apprenticeship in watchmaking in April 2018. Watchmaker initially approached Geoff in November 2017, after reading an article about Jacob’s success in the local press. Geoff is delighted that Jacob Russell, his apprentice for the last 5 years has passed his British Horological Exams with Merit together with the highest mark for his portfolio thus, becoming the youngest Fellow of the British Horological Institute in Britain. Watchmaker was the recipient of the Beresford Hutchinson prize in 2016. He has already trained two apprentices to FBHI status and has also mentored a number of clock and watchmakers. He is also one of two Programme Advisors for the Postgraduate Diploma Conservation of Clocks and Related Objects at West Dean College in West Sussex. Upon his return to the UK, he rejoined the family business and for the past thirty years he has successfully developed the vintage wristwatch restoration and sales side of the company.
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He then embarked on the famous WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program) course in Neuchatel Switzerland studying under master watchmaker Antoine Simonin. At 16 he left Midhurst and studied horology in London for three years at Hackney Technical College passing the final grade of the British Horological Institute exams with merit in 1985. Geoff, a watchmaker, started his career working alongside his father, John, when he was 14. I’m extremely grateful to Geoff Allnutt, for stepping in at the last minute, accompanied by two of his apprentices Jacob Russell, FBHI. You are however welcome to see their presentations at the college on Saturday, 14 May. Unfortunately, this May, Malcolm Archer has suffered the Covid 19 virus and as a result has had to cancel our talk from the students. The last 10 or more years we have enjoyed the company of many young horologists training at West Dean College. Expanding the business and training apprentices As with all these clocks the pumping arm drops out of the way when not in use, Ron pointed out if there were a spring the lever would be carried around with the gear train. The whole clock was not much taller 5 foot six and driven by a weight of 48 Lbs, raised with a ratcheting pumped arm. A complicated clock for the little-known Somerset clockmaker to produce circa 1795. The third one which Ron had been very instrumental in restoring to its former glory was recorded on video by his good friend Peter Elliott and we were able to go through this with Ron as he explained the intricacies of the layout of the dial, the shutters that operated the sunrise and sunset, the moon wheel, and the flyback perpetual calendar in the break arch. One diminutive in size but also perpetual. one a full-size with perpetual calendar and musical, playing the tune once per day. James made three, year-duration longcase clocks. He made wonderful clock for the Duke of Somerset that goes 12 months without winding up. He is a clockmaker and an extraordinary genius but a Democrat from having too much religion has now none at all. Walked to Stowey with my little boy, met my wife there. In that book an extract from “Paupers and Pig Killers” a diary of William Holland, a Somerset Parson.įriday, 20 November 1800. In a book, “The Thristle Clockmakers of Somerset”, by Nial and Deborah Woodford Ron gratefully pointed out, this helped him with several dates and facts. Conjurer Cole was baptised 1762 Marrying Catherine Slocombe in 1792 who was 11 years younger. Ron showing the family tree introduced us to James “conjurer” Cole, father of the two boys.
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The two brothers James Ferguson Cole and Thomas Cole achieved greatness at young ages, 23 and 25. The majority of clocks studied in this publication are in the Harris collection at Belmont. In Ron’s opinion the book by John Hawkins, “Thomas Cole and Victorian Clockmaking” put the Cole family on the map. Sadly, not in time for publication of this newsletter but if any SLB members attend please let us know how it went. After the AGM the highlight of the evening will be a talk from renowned Dr Tessa Murdoch “Huguenots, Horology, and Engravers in London 1680 to 1760”. There will be examples of engraved dials, pocket watches and an English carriage clock. Please see Mike Barbers obituary of him in last month’s newsletter.ĭudley Withers of the Hand Engraver Association made us aware of their AGM and annual lecture which will take place 22nd of June 2022 at the Royal Academy of Arts. Our chairman James Marten introduced our meeting with a brief silence remembering a long-standing member, Alan Turner, who sadly passed away on Wednesday 11th of May. An evening with Ron Rose, James Cole, James Ferguson Cole and Thomas Cole.