Escapement

The pursuit of understanding antique clocks has kindled an interest in history that was all but eschewed by your correspondent when he was a youngster. Social Studies class was a drag to this yet to burgeon clock fan. Teachers never ignited any passion for the past in this otherwise curious mind.  Science ruled the day.  Biology. Chemistry. Physics. Math. Engineering.  Bring it. And in the years that followed your local horologist was schooled deeply in formal research methodologies and writing for many, many years.  Lest this scribbler of blog posts inadvertently suggest otherwise, this is not a tale of woe. Those early passions have served YLH incredibly well and certainly underpin no small part of his fascination with the mechanics of timepieces.  But truth be told some of the fervency of all things science has waned a bit. What has been pleasantly unexpected on this horological journey is the experience of excitement in researching, subsequent discovery of u...

Your local horologist has been lucky to enjoy a few trips to France over the years.  Nothing like a good bistro on a blustery day. When not in the shop this clock fool enjoys a good French film. Jacques Tati was  brilliant , Melville was a genius and Clouzot made one of the greatest films of all time. And the French made incredible clocks. YLH owns more than a couple and has had the chance to write about this one , and this one , and this one . Oh and this one ! And he hasn't even gotten to this one . There are others. French clockmaker's persistent dedication to and long tradition of quality, design and artistry , even in the face of tremendous economic challenge, surpasses the horological efforts of perhaps any other country.  French clocks were often made for the aristocracy and frequently designed with statuary and elements resplendent in gold. Here is an example of a classic French mantel clock in the Louvre: Photo courtesy of Pierre Philippe Thomire - Marie-Lan Ng...