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Company type | Public company |
---|---|
Founded | 1856 |
Headquarters | Derby |
Products | clocks |
Website | www.smithofderby.com |
Smith of Derby Group is a clockmaker based in Derby, England founded in 1856. Smith of Derby has been operated continuously under five generations of the Smith family. [1]
John Smith (21 December 1813 - 1886) [2] became an apprentice to John Whitehurst in 1827. He went on to be the founder of a new clockmaking company in 1856, first establishing his business in premises at 27 Queen Street in Derby. [3]
John Smith's new company flourished during the Industrial Revolution. When he died in 1886, his two sons, Frank and John took over the running of the family business. Under Frank Smith, the company were responsible for building the huge turret clock for St Paul's Cathedral in 1893.[ citation needed ]
Frank Smith died in 1913, and the company was run by staff until his son Alan was old enough to take over the running of the business. Alan Smith was succeeded by Howard Smith, who in turn, was succeeded by Nicholas Smith.
During the 20th century, Smith and Sons expanded through the acquisition of a variety of businesses. Clockmakers William Potts & Sons, Leeds were established in 1833 and acquired by Smith of Derby in 1933; JB Joyce & Co of Whitchurch were responsible for many clocks internationally and were acquired by Smith of Derby in 1965;[ citation needed ] George & Francis Cope were established in 1845 as producers of chronometers for the Admiralty, and joined Smith of Derby in 1984.[ citation needed ] In 1985 they acquired B & H (Derby) Ltd and became the current Smith of Derby Group.
In 2013, the company acquired the historical Scottish clockmaker James Ritchie & Son but continue to operate the firm as a subsidiary. [4]
In addition to these clock installations, Smith of Derby also manufactures some of the world's most expensive Islamic Prayer Clocks. [12] The Prayer Clocks are customisable and can be designed to include precious metals and gems. [13]
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)A pendulum clock is a clock that uses a pendulum, a swinging weight, as its timekeeping element. The advantage of a pendulum for timekeeping is that it is an approximate harmonic oscillator: It swings back and forth in a precise time interval dependent on its length, and resists swinging at other rates. From its invention in 1656 by Christiaan Huygens, inspired by Galileo Galilei, until the 1930s, the pendulum clock was the world's most precise timekeeper, accounting for its widespread use. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, pendulum clocks in homes, factories, offices, and railroad stations served as primary time standards for scheduling daily life, work shifts, and public transportation. Their greater accuracy allowed for the faster pace of life which was necessary for the Industrial Revolution. The home pendulum clock was replaced by less-expensive synchronous electric clocks in the 1930s and '40s. Pendulum clocks are now kept mostly for their decorative and antique value.
The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby, better known as Derby Cathedral, is a cathedral church in the city of Derby, England. In 1927, it was promoted from parish church status to that of a cathedral, creating a seat for the Bishop of Derby, which new see was created in that year. The original church of All Saints was founded in the mid-10th century as a royal collegiate church, dedicated to All Saints. The main body of the church as it stands today is a Georgian rebuilding by James Gibbs, completed in 1725. The tower dates from the 16th century, and a retroquire was added in the 20th century.
A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and/or repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly to repairing clocks and watches. Clockmakers must be able to read blueprints and instructions for numerous types of clocks and time pieces that vary from antique clocks to modern time pieces in order to fix and make clocks or watches. The trade requires fine motor coordination as clockmakers must frequently work on devices with small gears and fine machinery.
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