Standard Measure (of the Clockmakers' Company) ‘Standard measure’ refers to the trading standards set and controlled by Clockmakers’ Company. Makers of clocks, as well as instrument makers (makers of sundials, quadrants, and even rulers and yardsticks), were held accountable if these standards were not met. Since its founding, the Company would carry out routine searches by senior members, identified as Custodians of the Standard Measure. Horologist Brian Loomes explains that Custodians could enter a premises of anyone in the trade, at any time and without notice, ‘to uncover, confiscate and deface inadequate work in clocks and watches.’[1] These searches were referred to as the ‘walks’ or ‘four walks’. During searches, custodians could also attempt to collect unpaid ‘quarterage’ money from members, who were usually expected to pay a subscription of four pence a quarter. Although fair game, mathematical instrument makers were rarely subjected to ‘walks’ as they belonged to other City Companies (older than the Clockmakers’ Company) and were beholden to their standards. This changed following the Great Plague and Great Fire of London in 1665 and 1666, respectively. These events brought London to an economic standstill, leaving all City Companies desperate for funds. Loomes suggests that this is probably why the Clockmakers’ Company forced as many as twenty mathematical instrument makers to join their company in 1668.[2] One of these was Hilkiah Bedford, an instrument maker of high standing who became a Custodian of the Standard Measure. Bedford carried out the first search of the premises of instrument makers in April of 1668. End Notes [1] Loomes 2013. [2] Ibid. Reference Loomes, B. 2013. ‘Hilkiah Bedford and a Charles II sundial.’ https://www.brianloomes.com/collecting/bedfordsundial/index.html.