Philip Thorpe Priestley facts for kids

Philip Thorpe Priestley was a clever English scientist and inventor. He was born on May 15, 1936, and passed away on March 9, 2018.

Early Life and Career

Philip Priestley was born in Lincoln. He later lived in Newark, Nottinghamshire, from 2012. He went to Lincoln City (Grammar) School from 1946 to 1954. After that, he studied Chemistry at the University of Nottingham from 1954 to 1957. He earned a special degree in Chemistry.

Working at Kodak

After university, Philip joined Kodak Limited in the UK. Kodak is a very famous company known for cameras and film. He worked there as an IT Manager. He even spent four years working for Eastman Kodak in the USA.

Philip was also an inventor! He held several patents. These patents were for tools that could measure very small temperature differences. He also invented instruments for chemical reactions.

Royal Air Force and Computers

Philip served in the Royal Air Force for his National Service. He was an Electronics Instructor, teaching others about electronic systems.

From 1966, he helped Kodak use some of the very first process control computers. These computers helped to manage and improve the manufacturing process. Later, he was in charge of setting up large commercial computers for Kodak. He retired from Kodak at the beginning of 1993.

A Passion for Antique Watches

When Philip retired, he spent more time on his favorite hobby: antique watches. He especially loved watches made in the USA.

Books on Watchmaking

While living in the US, he wrote an important book called Watch Case Makers of England 1720 -1920. This was the first book to explain how watch cases were made. It also listed the makers and their special marks found at different assay offices. This book was published in 1994.

In 2000, he wrote a second book, Early Watch Case Makers of England 1631 to 1720. This was also published in the US by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc (NAWCC).

In 2002, he helped with a seminar in Massachusetts. It was about how industrial watchmaking started in Boston. The talks from this seminar were published in 2005 by NAWCC.

In 2004, he wrote another book with Canon Maurice Ridgway. It was called The Compendium of Chester Gold & Silver Marks 1570 to 1962. This book shared information from the Chester Assay Office Registers.

His last book, Aaron Lufkin Dennison, An Industrial Pioneer and his Legacy, came out in 2010. Dennison helped start the famous Waltham Watch Company in Massachusetts in 1850. He also started the Dennison Watch Case Company in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, in 1874.

Community Service

Philip Priestley was also involved in his local community. He was a member of Chiltern District Council for 26 years. He retired from this role in 2011. He represented areas like Chalfont Common and later Chesham Bois & Weedon Hill Wards. He was even the Chairman of the Council from 2007 to 2009. In 2016, Philip was given the special title of Honorary Alderman of Chiltern District Council.

Memberships and Honors

Philip Priestley was a member of many important groups. He was a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries. He was also a Freeman of Lincoln and London. He belonged to the Silver Society and the Jewellery/Plate/Horology Society. He was a professional Member of the British Horological Institute. He was a Silver Star Fellow of the NAWCC. He was also a member of the Antiquarian Horological Society and a Liveryman of the Clockmakers' Company.