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The Encyclopedia of Horology

London, England

Barwise

Partially verified

Chronometers and electric clocks

History

The firm was founded in 1790 by John Barwise at 29 St. Martin's Lane, London.

John Barwise, a native of Cockermouth, Cumberland, served as the royal clockmaker to King George IV. Following the death of the founder in 1820, the business was managed by his sons, Weston Barwise and John Barwise Jr. The business continued its operations through the mid-19th century, with John Barwise Jr. becoming a director at the British Watch and Clockmaking Company in 1842.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Key models

Electric Clock
This electromagnetically driven pendulum clock was patented in 1840 by John Barwise and Alexander Bain.

Major innovations

  • John Barwise received a patent for an electromagnetically driven pendulum clock in 1840.

Known markings

  • The firm signed its pieces with the name Barwise and the location of London.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

3 catalogued objects are recorded under Barwise. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

escape wheelpallets and leveroscillator
Schematic: escapement arrangement. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Barwise, John, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03
  2. Barwise, John Jr., Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.