This course aims to teach learners the essentials of precision timekeeping. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the difference between continuous and oscillatory processes, identify astronomical phenomena related to timekeeping, and recognize the impact of factors such as thermal expansion and air resistance on precision. The course covers the history of timekeeping, from early water clocks to modern mechanical watches, including significant developments like John Harrison's H4 and the cylinder escapement. The teaching method involves a lecture format with a focus on historical examples and technical details. This course is intended for individuals interested in horology, watchmaking, or the history of timekeeping.
Overview
Syllabus
Intro
New Members & Lapel Pins
Henry B. Fried Scholarship
Traveling Education
Continuous Vs. Oscillatory Processes
Astronomical Phenomena: The Earliest Timekeepers
An Early Water Clock
The enemies of precision
Thermal expansion
Friction due to air resistance
Minimive interference of the escapement
Is the verge and foliot capable of precision timekeeping?
John Harrison's H4: The Ultimate Verge Watch
The cylinder escapement: an improvement on the
Shape Of The Balance Spring
The modern mechanical watch
Hundreds of escapements were invented in the last 500 years.
What we didn't talk about
Taught by
Horological Society of New York
