John Harrison's wooden clocks - part 2

With the aid of a replica clock this video shows the unusual features of the precision pendulum clocks built by John Harrison and his brother James between 1725 and 1730.

[@ChristoferB]

He was voted "only" 39th of most influential britons of all time. David Beckham made 33rd spot :-). More seriously, Harrison has throughout my life been number one. I've never seen one of his clocks in real life. It's about time I make the trip down to Greenwich to see No.4. Thank's for a great clip!

[@g0mhc]

A smashing insight into the craftsmanship of the Great John Harrison.

[@stawastawa]

thank you so much for making this video! an incredible resource.

[@ChertineP]

What a wonderful pair of videos! Thank you so much.

[@BobTascione]

Good video with lots of good information. Thanks for putting it up here.

[@xylfox]

A REAL genius!!! An Autodidact who he had no specialist-prejudgements and mental independence. His clocks had the unbelievable accuracy of a few seconds in a half year!!!

[@MagnetOnlyMotors]

Wonderful stuff !

[@tommygola]

How amazingly clever..

[@darrencady4261]

Harrison did not follow contempory wisdom in the construction of his clocks because he wasn't trained as a clockmaker and could take liberties in his designs because he followed his head and not what was considered "correct" at the time. To think that he knew about friction, temperature and no need for lubrication by means of mechanical compensation and construction suggests he had an insight akin to Divine. A true genius and I am very proud to say an English one at that.

[@Waltham1892]

@griffithstoby amazing, a man clearly ahead of his time...

[@imager05]

Very nice presentations. For a great read on John Harrison and the search for Longitude read Dava Sobel's "Longitude", The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time. I got it as a gift recently and was bowled over with this historical account.

[@xylfox]

I forgot:This accuracy was reached ON SEA!!!

[@kirksealls1912]

Where exactly does one acquire replicas of John Harrison's long case clocks?!

[@Waltham1892]

So, the bar construction of the pendulum bars uses the same brass/steel mix that late 19th century pocket watch balance wheels!

[@fosteragnes]

Did you get the original text-only version of 'Longitude' or the later illustrated version? If you got the former I advise you to also try and get hold of the latter - the illustrations add a great deal to the story. The book is 'The Illustrated Longitude' by Dava Sobel & William J. Andrewes. ISBN 1-85702-714-0

[@griffithstoby]

@Waltham1892 harrison invented the gridiron pendulum