Robert Loomes' Clock and Dial Staff
JOB VACANCY
We are looking for a good watchmaker to come and join us.
Fabulous environment in which to work. Excellent pay.
Contact us for a chat! Robert Loomes MBHI FRSA, started work in his father, Brian Loomes, Hon FBHI, in 1987. He learnt about restoring clocks with the help and tuition of some of the best - and kindest - clock-restorers in Yorkshire, including the late David Swindells FBHI.
On completing a five year apprenticeship with his father, Robert opened the Stamford workshop in 1993. He then qualified by examination as a Member of the British Horological Institute.
Robert has been a consultant to the BBC since 1997 and appears on occasional radio and television programmes.
He sits on the council of the British Watch and Clockmakers' Guild: the professional organisation for those employed in horology. If watches or clocks are the main source of your income, you should join. The fees are small and the work the Guild does invaluable.
In 2006 Robert was elected to the council of the British Horological Institute. The BHI in conjunction with EAL is THE awarding body for qualification in the clock & watch business.
Robert is also a Fellow of the RSA : The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Margaret Scarr joined the business in 1996 and completed her apprenticeship in 2001, when she became a member of the British Watch and Clockmakers' Guild. She chose to stay with the business as a journeyman (or journeywoman?) clock restorer and is now head of the clock workshop.
Margaret was joint runner-up in the "Rutland & Stamford Mercury Employee of the year" 2007 awards.
The fact that from over seventy nominations there was a shortlist of three made us rather proud.
John Nicholls studied graphic design at Stamford and then Lincoln. John worked as a freelance dial restorer for us for seven years before coming to work here permanently in 2001. We're pleased to have him working on the premises. He is now head of our dial restoration studio, a position made possible through his knowlege of period detail, draughtsmanship and skilled artistry. John's research into Scottish dial painting techniques has advanced our knowledge considerably.
Wayne Brereton had a traditional draughtsman's apprenticeship with a graphic design firm in Birmingham. He is one of the last great draughtsmen (and ex member of the Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Engravers - the "SLADE"). He can paint letering and signatures in any style, standing on his head. He left the art and design world as it became increasingly computerised and accepted a job with us in 2003. He is also a keen engraver and does occasional hand engraving work for local silversmiths etcetera.
Oliver Hall is a second generation clockmaker who came to us in September 05. In fact he has just left having moved to Breitling's service division. Though sad to see him go, I hope it speaks volumes for our standards.
Martyn Heath has stepped into the breech since Oliver left in April. Martyn had a very traditional watch & clockmakers' apprenticeship in Nottingham in the 1970s and 80s, eventually heading his own workshops. Martyn steps back into the world of the employed "in order to see my family once in a while" and we are lucky to have found someone of his experience and education. He is a Member of the British Watch and Clockmakers' Guild and he should also be a Member of the BHI - so we are pushing him to re-register!
Alan Shortland joins us in 2007. He served a very traditional clock and watchmaking apprenticeship in Drydens of Spalding in the 1960s, working on every possible kind of clock and watch - as you would expect in a country town. After forty years' experience in the trade there is not much he hasn't seen before!
March 6th 2006 was the date for Oliver's Indenture with the Clockmakers' Company in London, the full details of their indenture below:
THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CLOCKMAKERS
This indenture witnesseth
That....................................................(the Apprentice)
Son of.................................................
by and with consent of.....................
Doth put himself apprentice to...........(the Master),
Citizen and Clockmaker of London to learn the Art and Mystery of Clockmaking and with him, after the manner of an Apprentice, to serve from the date hereof, until the full End and Term of Four Years. During which Term the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands every where gladly do. He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor see it be done of others, but that he to the utmost of his powershall let or forthwith give warning of the same. He shall not waste the goods of his said Master, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not absent himself from his Master's Service unlawfully; but in all things as a faithful Apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said Master during the said Term.
And the Master shall, by the best Means that he can, shall Teach and Instruct, or cause to be Taught and instructed the Art and Mystery of Clockmaking, according to the custom of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakwers, during the said Term, paying unto the said Apprentice a Sum equal to, or in excess of, that prescribed by Law. The Master shall ensure that the workshop used by the said Apprentice is maintained according to the requirements of Health and Safety and Employment Law.
And to the true Performance of all and every the said Covenants and Agreements each of the said several Parties binds himself unto the others jointly and severally by these presents. In witness whereof, the parties above-named to these Indentures have put their Hands the
.................................day of...................In the Year..................
....................................Apprentice
....................................Father
....................................Master
Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of .........................
Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers British Horological Institute awards Brian Loomes
Honorary Fellowship of the Institute may be awarded either for services to the Institute or for services to horology. It is for his services to horology in the form of historical and genealogist, and in 1966 became an antique clock dealer. He and his wife Joy have been trading in antique clocks for 40 years, specialising in English lantern clocks with a few longcase, hooded and hook and spike clocks.
He has written twenty-four on horological topics, with a 25th, on lantern clocks and comprising 28 chapters and around 1000 illustrations, currently in preparations and expected to be published this summer. His genealogical skills have enabled him to uncover previously unknown facts about clockmakers and their families.
In 1976 he published a valuable supplement to G.H.Baillie's Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, adding some 35000 entries.A second edition appeared in 1989,followed by several reprints. This work culminated in the publication in 2006 of a combined 21st Century edition of Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, an invaluable reference work, containing information about some 90000 makers working between the late 16th and 20th centuries.
Brian said "I am absolutely delighted to receive this honour.It came as a very great surprise as I am not a working clockmaker. My interest has always been in uncovering new facts about the lives and practices of clocmaker. My interest has always been in uncovering new facts about the lives and practices of clockmakers and in documenting them, quite often in the form of articles in the pages of Horological Journal. I would like to thank those who took this decision."
Taken from the Horological Journal, May 2008
Horological Journal
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