Horologist Dr John C Taylor OBE honoured with stamps
British horologist and inventor Dr John C Taylor OBE is to be honoured with a set of six postage stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post Office.
Dr Taylor, 80, who was born in Buxton, Derbyshire and has lived in the Isle of Man for the greater part of his life. Each stamp will focus on different areas of his life’s work.
He is well-renowned for his contribution to horology and he also created the Chronophage clock series, the most famous of which is the Corpus Chronophage at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, which has become the most popular attraction in the city.
Dr Taylor has spent his career creating safety-critical electrical components and switches, most notably the kettle controls that switch our kettles off when they have boiled, and the 360° cordless kettle.
Dr Taylor has over 400 patents to his name. He has also invented temperature and current-sensitive safety controls used in small electric motors utilised in a wide range of appliances and cars.
He has one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of early English clocks, including one of only three surviving and working John Harrison longcase clocks.
The Isle of Man Post Office has created six stamps, ranging in value from 47p to £1.86, focusing on Dr Taylor’s inventions, love of horology, philanthropy and home.
The stamps are to be on sale from Wednesday 13 September 2017.
Dr John C Taylor OBE said, “I’m delighted by the creativity shown by the Isle of Man Post Office, who have captured my life story in a colourful and imaginative way.
“I have lived my life deliberating, inventing, creating, producing and perfecting. Through this unique issue of stamps, the Isle of Man Post Office has captured my life’s work. It would be marvellous if others seeing the stamps were to follow my motto, ‘Cogitate Incogitata’, Think the Unthinkable.”
All funds received by Dr Taylor from the sale of the stamp issue will be donated to the Teapot Trust, which works with chronically ill children in hospitals and hospices.
