Edward Barlow Clocks and Biography

The Rev. Edward Barlow, born in 1634, died in 1716, made claim in 1686 that he was inventor of "rack" repeating or striking work for clocks. He petitioned the Clockmakers' Company for a patent, which was denied, in common with most applications for patents, since the company seemed desirous that all its members should share in those inventions made by the most ingenious. The following is the Order in Council concerning the patent:

At a Court at Whitehall, 2nd March, 1637, Present, The Kings most excellent Maj'ty in Councill.

Whereas on the 24th of February last his Maj'ty thought fitt to appoint this day to hear the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Fellowship of the Art or Mistry of Clockmaking of the City of London against Edward Barlow, in whose name a Patent is passing for the sole rnakeing and manageing all pulling clocks and watches, usually called Repeating clocks, And both parties attending accordingly were called in and heard by their Council! learned.

His Majesty in Councill haveing fully considered what was alleadged on either side, Is pleased to Order and it is hereby ordered That no Patent be granted to the said Edward Barlow or any others for the sole makeing and manageing of pulling clocks and watches as aforesaid, The same being now made by severail Clockrnakers, whereof all persons concerned are to take due notice.

Daniel Quare, another distinguished member of the Clockmakers' Company, admitted 1671, Master 1708, was, like the Rev. Edward Barlow, an inventor of mechanism for the making of pulling and repeating watches and clocks. His invention antedated Barlow's by about ten years, and in 1686 or 1687, when Barlow's petition for the patent was laid by the Clock-makers Company before James II., with the request that he should not grant it, that monarch decided the matter in a truly kingly fashion.

He had both Barlow and Quare make him a repeating watch, and tried both giving the preference to Ouare, a fact which was duly announced in the Gazette. A description of the identical watch made by Quare for the test was printed in the Morning Chronicle, in 1823, and a very splendid and sumptuous timekeeper it was.