Actually thinking back over the pictures in this piece and considering the technology and tools they had available to them at the time it’s absolutely mind-boggling to me how Harrison and other early watch and clockmakers, especially Breguet , could possibly have hand fashioned and put together all the pieces much less have imagined them in the first place!
Of course it’s being done now, but that’s after having the general patterns and concepts evolve and be passed on over centuries
What a great article, the perfect amount of depth for me, thank you. It's interesting the lengths that went into decorating the watch given its practical nature. Given today's finishing hyperbole, you would expect most of the 30 years was spent on decoration and not actually solving the problem.
I think a lot of that has practical implications, like the grooves controlling ingress of particles into the moving parts etc. but I agree, it’s a valid point nonetheless
Not to state the obvious, but checking out these Chronometers at the Royal Observatory is a must, as an added bonus the Cutty Sark is a short distance away and worth popping into as well.
Quite a (his)story! Thanks for putting it together🫡🤗
I wonder who will “revive” the Harrison marque and lay claim to a 200 plus lineage of their glorious horological past 🤔🙄😏🤓😉……surprised it hasn’t already been co-opted ala LeRoy, Graham, Arnold, et al
My God; I can't believe it its 31 years since the Harrison Symposium at Harvard; three amazing days. Please get a copy of Will Andrewes' book on the proceedings, there was so much more than in Dava Sobell's book. Dava was assigned by the Harvard magazine to write a short article about the symposium, when it was published it was seen by a publisher who subscribed to the magazine and commissioned her to expand the article - the rest, as they say, is history.
It's an excellent start, if you can't get hold of Andrewe's book, SJX has an really good post on the technology behind H4.
Speaking of H4, I think that I am the last person - apart from the staff at the NMM - to have wound H4. Once every decade or so, they run it for a few days and I was fortunate to be present when Jonathan Betts was tasked with winding the beast and he kindly offered me the chance to do so myself.
They say you truly understand something if you can explain it on a simple way. So you nailed it, fantastic work! Thanks ❤️
Still want to watch the movie though….
Pleasure, thanks for taking the time!
Actually thinking back over the pictures in this piece and considering the technology and tools they had available to them at the time it’s absolutely mind-boggling to me how Harrison and other early watch and clockmakers, especially Breguet , could possibly have hand fashioned and put together all the pieces much less have imagined them in the first place!
Of course it’s being done now, but that’s after having the general patterns and concepts evolve and be passed on over centuries
Stephen McDonnell also said, Harrison’s accomplishments are all the more impressive because of the era in which he accomplished them.
What a great article, the perfect amount of depth for me, thank you. It's interesting the lengths that went into decorating the watch given its practical nature. Given today's finishing hyperbole, you would expect most of the 30 years was spent on decoration and not actually solving the problem.
I think a lot of that has practical implications, like the grooves controlling ingress of particles into the moving parts etc. but I agree, it’s a valid point nonetheless
Fascinating reading, thanks for this. Much more reading to do as a result.
Pleasure! Hope it was worth the time :)
Not to state the obvious, but checking out these Chronometers at the Royal Observatory is a must, as an added bonus the Cutty Sark is a short distance away and worth popping into as well.
No, I'm glad you did! If you're ever up for a trip when you're next in London, let me know!
👌
Good weekend!
You too my friend!
Quite a (his)story! Thanks for putting it together🫡🤗
I wonder who will “revive” the Harrison marque and lay claim to a 200 plus lineage of their glorious horological past 🤔🙄😏🤓😉……surprised it hasn’t already been co-opted ala LeRoy, Graham, Arnold, et al
Maybe it has? Actually, I think it definitely has... maybe not those names, but the K1 mentioned is a start!
A wonderful read as always
Cheers PD - happy weekend!
My God; I can't believe it its 31 years since the Harrison Symposium at Harvard; three amazing days. Please get a copy of Will Andrewes' book on the proceedings, there was so much more than in Dava Sobell's book. Dava was assigned by the Harvard magazine to write a short article about the symposium, when it was published it was seen by a publisher who subscribed to the magazine and commissioned her to expand the article - the rest, as they say, is history.
Thanks, will do! On balance, and as someone who knows the history far better than I, is this post at least accurate? 😅
It's an excellent start, if you can't get hold of Andrewe's book, SJX has an really good post on the technology behind H4.
Speaking of H4, I think that I am the last person - apart from the staff at the NMM - to have wound H4. Once every decade or so, they run it for a few days and I was fortunate to be present when Jonathan Betts was tasked with winding the beast and he kindly offered me the chance to do so myself.
Any chance you could invite me to the next winding? :D
1️⃣🖤