Newcomen, the international society for history, engineering and technology provides an insight into a Victorian instrument maker with a worldwide following (even today). Guest speaker: Darlah Thomas.

Thomas Cooke (1807 – 1868) had a humble start to life in a small village south-east of York. His father was the village shoemaker who could afford little education for his children. How then could such a child progress to a career where he was respected by the most eminent in his field and whose customers, both amateur and professional, would span the globe?

In the spirit of Samuel Smiles’ Self Help, Thomas was mostly self-educated and with the assistance of three mentors, was able to rise to the top of the astronomical, meteorological, horological and mathematical instrument making hierarchy. He relished a challenge and was known for solving manufacturing problems thought impossible by his peers.

His reputation has endured and his products are still widely collected not just as beautiful objects but also for their continued utility.

About the Speaker

Darlah Thomas and her husband Steve are amateur horologists. Their passion for this subject has resulted in several articles, books and a series of talks all intent on widening knowledge of individual clockmakers and their craft. Researching clockmaking has taken them to most parts of the country, to tiny hamlets and the large cities, to church towers, mansions, town halls, private houses and even prisons in search of clocks.

It was the clocks made by Thomas Cooke which first attracted their attention but the volume and range of other products he made soon filled a very large book!