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Christopher Pinchbeck (c.1670 – November 18, 1732) was a London clockmaker and maker of musical Automata. He was born in Clerkenwell but worked in Fleet Street. Probably his name was derived from Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire. In the 18th century he invented the alloy Pinchbeck a cheap substitute for gold. He made an exquisite musical clock, worth about £500, for Louis XIV, and a fine organ for the Great Mogul, valued at £300. His eldest son, also named Christopher (1710–1783) became King's Clockmaker by appointment to George III: among his timepieces is an important astronomical clock made for the King, now in Buckingham Palace.
A number of clocks and watches made by both Christopher Pinchbecks still exist. Nowadays the term 'Pinchbeck Watch' may mean a watch made by Christopher senior or junior, a watch made by another maker and housed in a Pinchbeck case, or a watch made by Harold Pinchbeck, the 21st Century family watchmaking business in England.
Idiomatic Use
Because of his work with alloys, the term "pinchbeck" has entered the English vocabulary, signifying the alloy he created. Also, because the alloy could be used to replace gold, something less than genuine; a counterfeit; a fake; a sham or fraud. For example, "Pinchbeck heroism" is displayed in many action movies.
Notes
References
- World Wide Words, Pinchbeck
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Pinchbeck family by Rita Shenton.
- From 'Fleet Street:Introduction (continued)', Old and New London: Volume 1 (1878), pp 53–69.
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