An Interesting Oak Eight Day Longcase Clock, signed W Barnard and Numbered 248, "One of Newarks best known clockmakers", circa 1740, caddied pediment, arch moulded trunk door with a glass lenticle, 12-inch square brass dial with a silvered chapter ring, dial centre with seconds dial and date aperture, four pillar movement with an anchor escapement and rack striking on a bell, back of the dial plate neatly engraved W Barnard, movement backplate numbered 248, 218cm high, sold with a purchase receipt dated 2003 from Brian Loomes and an article written by Brian Loomes about William Barnard and showing images and information regarding this clock numbered 248. see illustration

William Barnard was born in Newark about 1710 and was apprenticed for seven years. It is well noted that William numbered his clocks, usually next to his signature on the dial, and examples of numbers between the 300s to the 1200s have been noted.

This example is very unusual. Brian Loomes's article mentions that this clock is clearly unsigned on the dial but engraved neatly W Barnard behind the dial plate and numbered on the movement backplate, so this is one possible part of the explanation why we see fewer of Barnard's earlier clocks with the lower numbers, because they have gone unrecognised as being his work.

From the research into this clockmaker this is clearly by William Barnard and this makes it interesting to collectors because in the 18th century a clockmaker was not allowed to 'sign' his work when he was still an apprentice. Nor too was he usually permitted to do this when he worked as an assistant under another master. So, if William Barnard was making and selling clocks whilst in the employ of another master, he might well have left them unsigned, or at least signed them in a hidden place, as with this example.