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James Ritchie & Son, clockmakers, 25 Leith Street
Unknown, 1950, Photograph
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of 160
James Ritchie & Son, clockmakers, 25 Leith Street
James Ritchie & Son, clockmakers, 25 Leith Street
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Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
28292
Title
James Ritchie & Son, clockmakers, 25 Leith Street, Edinburgh
Artist / maker
Unknown
Date
1950
Type
Photograph
James Ritchie set up business in 1809 at 29 Leith Street and was joined by his eldest son, Frederick James Ritchie in 1814. They moved to 25 Leith Street in 1850. As well as being clockmakers to the citizens of Edinburgh, the company went on to play an important role in the history of the city itself. In 1853 Frederick worked with Charles Piazzi Smyth, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland in the creation of the Edinburgh time gun on the Nelson Monument, Calton Hill. He also designed the clock that fired the One o'clock Gun that was a further inovation in 1861. The company today still wind the time ball for the council six days a week. In 1903 James Ritchie & Son also designed the mechanism for Edinburgh's floral clock situated in Princes Street Gardens, this was the world's first floral clock.
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James Ritchie & Son clockmakers
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Architecture
>
Architectural features
>
Clocks and clock towers
Business
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Service industry
>
Shops
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Edinburgh areas
>
Calton
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Scotland
>
Edinburgh
Transport
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Infrastructure
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