Zone d'identification
Cote
Titre
Date(s)
- 1930–1973 (Création/Production)
Niveau de description
Étendue matérielle et support
110 files in 2 boxes and plan folders (0.5 linear metres)
Zone du contexte
Nom du producteur
Notice biographique
Philip Thornton (1901–1975), born in Great Haywood, Stafford, was a horologist and a manufacturer of milling cutters for clock wheels and pinions. He was also an accomplished clock maker, designer and engraver. In the 1930s and 1940s he was engaged mainly in clock making and restoration, becoming an expert at the repeating mechanisms used by Tompion and his contemporaries. He made striking longcase clocks in Knibb’s style, and after the Second World War, in collaboration with Frodsham & Company, he made hump back carriage clocks with perpetual calendar in the style of Breguet, the first of which was presented to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. His last creation was a Roman numeral striking clock, intended to be the first of a new series.
Histoire archivistique
These records were created and assembled by the horologist Philip Thornton. They were acquired by Rodney Law after Thornton’s death in 1975, when Law and David Burton took over Thornton’s business. On Law’s death in 2021, his papers were inherited by Michael Wright, who donated them to the AHS.
Source immédiate d'acquisition ou de transfert
Donated to the AHS by Michael Wright in 2021.
Zone du contenu et de la structure
Portée et contenu
This collection comprises Philip Thornton’s reports, notes, sketches and tracings which document the repairs and restorations of mainly bracket clocks, carried out by him primarily in the 1930s and 1940s, with a few later instances. Most papers record the date of restoration and the name of the client. The files vary in size and content from single pieces of scrap paper to more comprehensive bundles containing condition reports and detailed large-format drawings. Many of the papers are in very fragile condition.
Évaluation, élimination et calendrier de conservation
Accroissements
Philip Thornton’s archive has been fully catalogued and no further deposits are expected.
Mode de classement
The Thornton collection was originally deposited as one box of loose papers, grouped into numbered bundles relating to individual clocks and arranged mostly chronologically. This arrangement has been retained, with the original numbering preserved in the file reference numbers. Some file numbers have not been deposited. In the few cases were no original numbering was present, the files have been given alphabetical references. The collection is arranged into one series.
THO/01: Clock repair files
Zone des conditions d'accès et d'utilisation
Conditions d'accès
These records are mostly available for public access by prior appointment. Records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 2018.
Conditions de reproduction
Langue des documents
Écriture des documents
Notes de langue et graphie
English
Caractéristiques matérielle et contraintes techniques
Many papers are in fragile condition.
Instruments de recherche
Générer l'instrument de recherche
Zone des sources complémentaires
Existence et lieu de conservation des originaux
Existence et lieu de conservation des copies
Unités de description associées
Zone des notes
Identifiant(s) alternatif(s)
Mots-clés
Mots-clés - Sujets
Mots-clés - Lieux
Mots-clés - Noms
Mots-clés - Genre
Zone du contrôle de la description
Identifiant de la description
Identifiant du service d'archives
Règles et/ou conventions utilisées
Statut
Niveau de détail
Dates de production, de révision, de suppression
Langue(s)
Écriture(s)
Sources
Note de l'archiviste
Catalogued in May 2024 by the AHS Archivist.