The artificial clock-maker a treatise of watch, and clock-work, wherein the art of calculating numbers for most sorts of movements is explained to the capacity of the unlearned : also, the history of clock-work, both ancient and modern, with other useful matters, never before published / by W.D.

CHAP. IX. The Invention of Repeating Clocks. (Book 9)

§ 1. THe Clocks I now shall speak of, are such as by pulling of a String, &c. do strike the Hour, Quarter, or Minute, at any time of the day and night.

§ 2. These Clocks are a late Invention of one Mr Barlow, of no longer standing than the latter end of K. Charles II. about the year 1676.

This ingenious Contrivance (scarce so much as thought of before) soon took air, and being talked of among the London Artists, set their heads to work; who presently contrived several ways to effect such a performance. And hence arose the divers ways of Repeating work, which so early might be observed to be about the Town, every man almost practising, ac∣cording to his own Invention.

§ 3. This Invention was practised chief∣••, if not only, in larger Movements, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 K. James II.'s Reign: at which time it as transferred into Pocket-Clocks. But ••ere being some little contest concern∣••g the Author hereof, I shall relate the ••••e matter of fact, leaving the Reader to ••own judgment.

About the latter end of K. James II.'s ••gn, Mr Barlow (the ingenious Inventer ••ore-mentioned) contrived to put his ••ention into Pocket▪watches; and en∣••voured (with the Lord Chief Justice ••bone, and some others) to get a Patent ••it. And in order to it, he set Mr Tom∣•• the famous Artist, to work upon it: ••o accordingly made a Piece according ••is directions.

••r Quare (a very ingenious Watch▪••er in London) had some years before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thinking of the like Invention: but bringing it to perfection, he laid by thoughts of it, until the talk of Mr Bar∣•• Patent revived his former thoughts; ••ch he then brought to effect. This ••g known among the Watch-makers, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all pressed him to endeavour to hin∣•• Mr Barlow's Patent. And according∣ly

applications were made at Court, and a Watch of each Invention, produced be∣fore the King and Council. The King, upon tryal of each of them, was pleased to give the preference to Mr Quare's: of which, notice was given soon after in the Gazette.

The difference between these two In∣ventions was, Mr Barlow's was made to Repeat by pushing in two pieces on each side the Watch-box: one of which Re∣peated the Hour, the other the Quarter▪ Mr Quare's was made to Repeat, by a•• Pin that stuck out near the Pendant which being thrust in (as now 'tis done by thrusting in the Pendant) did Repeat both the Hour, and Quarter, with the sam•• thrust.

It would (I think) be very frivolous, to•• speak of the various contrivances, and methods of Repeating work, and the In∣venters of them; and therefore I shall sa•• nothing of them.