The Antiquarian Horological Society (AHS) is a learned society formed in 1953. It exists to promote the study of clocks and watches and the history of time measurement in all its forms. In order to achieve its aims the AHS holds meetings and publishes a quarterly journal Antiquarian Horology and various books.
The Journal:
Antiquarian Horology is sent quarterly to all members. Printed to the highest standards with many colour pages, each issue contains a variety of articles, the AHS programme, news, letters and high-quality advertising both trade and private. A complete collection of the journals is an invaluable store of horological information, the articles covering diverse subjects including many makers from the famous to obscure.
Meetings:
Meetings usually take the form of lectures,
tours or visits to museums and collections. They provide members with the chance
to encounter a wide range of horological subjects and to forge friendships
and exchange information with like-minded people. Regional Section
meetings are held throughout the UK, in Europe, and in North America.
Two Specialist Groups exist to cater for
those interested in electrical horology and turret clocks.
There is always a good turn-out which shows that members appreciate the meetings both for their horological content and as social events; drinks and refreshments are provided.
Dates for your 2012 diary
New Venue: London meetings commencing with January 2012 are to be held at the Royal Astronomical Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BQ.
Saturday, 12 May
AGM: See advance details here.
Thursday, 19 July
LECTURE: ‘A Good Time in Berlin: The Remarkable Clocks of Normalzeit’ by Dr. James Nye.
Thursday, 20 September
LECTURE: ‘Precision Timekeeping for the Transits of Venus’ by Matthew Read.
Thursday, 15 November
LECTURE: ‘Learning from their experience – researching bankruptcies in the 18th and 19th century horological trades’ by Dr David Bryden.
Publications:
Various publications
of a specialist nature are produced, and many of these works are now regarded
as standard reference works in their own particular field. They have included
books on church, electrical and precision clocks, makers like Barraud,
Dent, Arnold, Windmills and Frodsham and also regional clockmaking. Reprints
of the early rare volumes of Antiquarian Horology are also available to
Members at reduced prices, as well as off-prints of significant articles
in Antiquarian Horology.
The Library:
The Society's Library
is housed in the Guildhall, London, alongside the Clockmaker's Company
library and museum. The extensive reference collection contains a complete run of
the society's journal Antiquarian Horology in addition to many standard
and unique titles gathered over the last fifty years. Members of the AHS
may freely consult the library during normal working hours.
Exhibitions:
Since its inception in 1953 the Antiquarian Horological Society has regularly gathered together clocks in public exhibitions, not just for the benefit of its members but to fulfil one of its founding aims - that of promoting the study of clocks and watches and the history of time measurement in all its forms.
Study Tours:
The Society arranges study tours for its members, usually to countries within Europe, to engender a wider appreciation of their horological history.
Read more about joining the Society
It is with great pleasure that Council can announce the AHS has formally affiliated with the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), by means of a Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the two institutions.
Founded in 1820, the RAS is a distinguished learned society that promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science (see www.ras.org.uk). Its handsome apartments in Burlington House, on London’s Piccadilly, have hosted many historic lectures in the field of timekeeping (including precision clocks, time distribution and longitude), and the two societies share a wide range of common interests. Other RAS affiliates include the British Sundial Society and the Society for the History of Astronomy.
The most immediate result of the affiliation for AHS members is the relocation of the London lecture series from Swedenborg House to Burlington House and a virtual tour of the building is available on the RAS website. Lectures now take place in the state-of-the-art lecture theatre, followed by drinks receptions in the magnificent double-height library.
In addition to the use of Burlington House, a number of reciprocal benefits have been agreed between the two institutions. AHS members now have access to the RAS library, and enjoy discounts on publications, advertising rates and use of RAS rooms. The two societies expect to support each other and on occasion run events of mutual interest.
This affiliation is an important step for the AHS as it seeks new ways to encourage the dissemination of its studies in the history of time measurement. Its reach and visibility outside its existing membership will be strengthened, situating the society in a growing network of member societies with common interests in the story of time.
The Percy Dawson Award is presented for the best article by an author new to the Journal, and for the year 2011 has been awarded to Rory McEvoy for his article 'Admiral Lord Nelson and the Commemorative Domestic Clock', published in the March 2011 issue of Antiquarian Horology. The Percy Dawson Award, instituted in 1995 to encourage new authors, is open to all non-professional authors.
The Dr. Alan Shenton Award is made for the best article on horology in the period 1840-1940. For the year 2010, Council has awarded this to Paul Myatt for his article 'Sidney Better - Watch Springer and Timer' published in the March 2011 issue of Antiquarian Horology.
As a charitable body, one of the objectives of the Society is the award of prizes and grants. The Society already supports the clock conservation and restoration courses run at West Dean College with the award of an annual cash prize for an exceptional project.
Additionally, and in view of the diminishing number of young people training as clock and watchmakers, the AHS has joined with the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and the Ogden Trust to offer grants to full-time students in need, on the 3-year horology course at City of Birmingham University. In December 2011 the bursary was awarded to Martin Cleaton. Current recipients of the bursary, Jonathan Kelly and Matthew Porton, both passed their examinations in June 2011. The first recipient of the Society's grant was Robert Quinn, a student from Scotland, who successfully completed his course in June 2011.
This award is made to the West Dean College Clock Restoration Course student who has successfully completed an exceptional project. For 2009, this prize was awarded to J ten Hoeve for his outstanding work on the Greenwich Tompion Replica.
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The AHS has supported the conservation of this fine clock by Ahasuerus Fromanteel which is part of the collection of the Museum of the History of Science at Oxford. The clock, dating from the early 1660s was part of a horological collection bequeathed to the Museum by Mr. Thomas George Barnett who died in 1935. The clock is an important example of the earliest type of English longcase clock incorporating a number of innovative features in both the movement and case design and, although it had been untouched for many years, it was in danger of deterioration. Funds for the conservation work were provided equally by the Antiquarian Horological Society and the fund for the Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material (PRISM). (Photographs by Richard Rowley, reproduced by courtesy of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford University) |
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