Thomas Tompion

Thomas Tompion

Thomas Tompion (1639–1713) was an English clock maker, watchmaker and mechanician who is still regarded to this day as the Father of English Clockmaking. Tompion's work includes some of the most historic and important clocks and watches in the world and can command very high prices whenever outstanding examples appear at auction. A plaque commemorates the house he shared on Fleet Street with his equally famous pupil and successor George Graham.

His apprentices included George Allett, Edward Banger, Henry Callowe (Callot), Daniel Delander, Richard Emes, Ambrose Gardner, Obadiah Gardner, William Graham (nephew of George Graham), George Harrison, Whitestone Littlemore, Jeremiah Martin, Charles Molins (Molyns), William Mourlay, Charles Murray, Robert Pattison, William Sherwood, Richard Street, Charles Sypson, William Thompson, James Tunn and Thomas White many of whom became important makers and workmen in their own right.

Biography

Thomas Tompion was born around 1639 and was baptized on 25 July 1639 in Northill, Bedfordshire, England. The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers maintains the family cottage in Ickwell, his home village. He was the eldest son of a blacksmith, also named Thomas Tompion, and probably worked as a blacksmith until 1664 when he became an apprentice of a London clockmaker. Very little of his earlier years is known. The first reference to Tompion in London is recorded around the end of 1670 in Water Lane (now Whitefriars Street) off Fleet Street.

His early clock making style shows a strong connection with Joseph Knibb. This is of interest as Tompion's most important early patron was the scientist Robert Hooke who must have known the Knibb family in Oxford^{[citation needed]}. Hooke's relationship with Tompion was the key to his success as it opened doors to Royal patronage as well as giving him access to the latest technology.

Tompion's excellence was based on the sound design of his productions as well as the high quality of the materials used. This together with the outstanding skills of the workmen he employed gave him an unrivalled reputation throughout the known world. Tompion was an early member of the Clockmakers' Company of London — he joined in 1671 and became a master in 1704. He was also one of the few watchmakers to become a member of the Royal Society. He joined in partnership with Edward Banger in 1701 until about 1707 or 1708.

When the Royal Observatory was established in 1676, King Charles II selected Tompion to create two clocks based on Hooke's idea of a very long pendulum. Each was driven by an escapement designed by Richard Towneley, with both clocks only needing to be wound once a year. They proved to be highly accurate^{[citation needed]} and were instrumental in achieving the accurate calculations needed for astronomical observation.

Plaque in Fleet Street, London, commemorating Thomas Tompion and George Graham

Due to his relationship with the scientist Robert Hooke he made some of the first watches with balance springs, these were much more accurate than earlier watches. Although several different kinds were experimented with, the final form was with a plain spiral balance spring. The first of this kind was made for King Charles II and is signed "Rob. Hooke invert. 1658. T. Tompion fecit, 1675."

It is often stated that Tompion invented the first widely used balance spring regulator used in pocket watches until the late 19th century, in which the Curb Pins are mounted on a sector-rack, moved by a pinion fitted with a graduated disc. However, this is not correct as such regulators were already in use in French balance spring watches of the 1670s.

As England's most prominent watchmaker, Tompion built about 5,500 watches and 650 clocks during his career. Tompion's clocks are known for their ingenuity of design and robust construction. His three-train grande sonnerie bracket clocks are masterpieces. Another of his innovations was to create a numbering system for his spring and long-case clocks which is thought to be the first time that a serial numbering system was applied to manufactured goods.

Later life

In 1711 Tompion joined in partnership with George Graham, who further developed the designs of both scientific instruments as well as clocks and watches after Tompion's death, he also continued Tompion's numbering system for his clocks and watches.

Thomas Tompion died on 20 November 1713 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Many of his clocks are still operational today, including two of his one-year clocks in Buckingham Palace.

Literature

• Claus Bernet (2010). Bautz, Traugott. ed (in German). Thomas Tompion. Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). 31. Nordhausen. cols. 1391–1396. ISBN 3-88309-544-8. http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/t/tompion_t.shtml. 

Examples of his work

• An eight day double pull repeating table clock in ebonised case. London. c 1700. Moyse's Hall Museum Bury St Edmunds UK

Cultural references

In the 1986 film Clockwise (film), the school of which John Cleese's character is headmaster was named for Thomas Tompion, appropriate given the headmaster's attention to punctuality.