This is the story of Rupert T. Gould (1890-1948), the polymath and horologist. A remarkable man, Lt Cmdr Gould made important contributions in an extraordinary range of subject areas throughout his relatively short and dramatically troubled life. From antique clocks to scientific mysteries, from typewriters to the first systematic study of the Loch Ness Monster, Gould studied and published on them all. With the title The Stargazer, Gould was an early broadcaster on the BBC's Children's Hour when, with his encyclopaedic knowledge, he became known as The Man Who Knew Everything. Not surprisingly, he was also part of that elite group on BBC radio who formed The Brains Trust, giving on-the-spot answers to all manner of wide ranging and difficult questions. With his wide learning and photographic memory, Gould awed a national audience, becoming one of the era's radio celebrities.
During the 1920s Gould restored the complex and highly significant marine timekeepers constructed by John Harrison (1693-1776), and wrote the unsurpassed classic, The Marine Chronometer, its History and Development. Today he is virtually unknown, his horological contributions scarcely mentioned in Dava Sobel's bestseller Longitude. The TV version of Longitude, in which Jeremy Irons played Rupert Gould, did at least introduce Gould's name to a wider public.
Gould suffered terrible bouts of depression, resulting in a number of nervous breakdowns. These, coupled with his obsessive and pedantic nature, led to a scandalously-reported separation from his wife and cost him his family, his home, his job, and his closest friends.
In this first-ever biography of Rupert Gould, Jonathan Betts, the RoyalObservatory Greenwich's Senior Horologist, has given us a compelling account of a talented but flawed individual. Using hitherto unknown personal journals, the family's extensive collection of photographs, and the polymath's surviving records and notes, Betts tells the story of how Gould's early life, his naval career, and his celebrity status came together as this talented Englishman restored part of Britain's--and the world's--most important technical heritage: John Harrison's marine timekeepers.

This beautifully illustrated volume presents an in-depth look at horology, the scientific study of time and timekeeping. Brimming with more than 150 detailed and full-color images, illustrations, charts, and technical drawings, it's a must-have for anyone interested in the art of watchmaking and watch design. But it's also much more. If you've ever wondered how watches work, or thought about how time influences our lives, then this book is also for you. It offers a comprehensive overview of watch styles, movements, complications, and parts, as well as the basics of starting and caring for a watch collection. A multifaceted study, it discusses the philosophy and measurement of time, the possibility of time travel, and the emergent smartwatch industry. A behind-the-scenes peek into the watch industry, plus pricing and market data, rounds out the contents. Readers will leave these pages with a newfound, renewed, or enhanced love of watchmaking, as well as an increased appreciation for the value of time.

The Academy of Independent Creators in Watchmaking (Academie Horlogere des Createurs Independants, AHCI) is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2020: that's over one-third of a century of total independence, creativity, exhibitions, and sharing watchmaking craftsmanship. Here, AHCI, the oldest organisation in the world devoted to protecting independent, artisanal watchmaking, presents an inside portrait of its members and candidates. They share their most iconic creations and their knowhow, give guided tours of their workshops, and offer a glimpse into their own private world. This dive into the beating heart of independent watchmaking is for all lovers of creativity and authenticity, be they connoisseurs of fine craftsmanship or experienced collectors willing to take the road less travelled.

John Whitehurst was one of a select number of men of science living and working in the eighteenth century whose minds were as remarkable for their breadth as their talents were for their diversity. Although remembered today mainly as a notable clockmaker from Derby - the town in which he lived and worked for over forty years - Whitehurst was also an instrument maker, mechanical engineer, hydraulicist, home improver, meteorologist, the father of modern geology and he had a hand in the development of the steam engine. John Whitehurst FRS: Innovator, Scientist, Geologist and Clockmaker presents a brief life of this talented and engaging man, drawing together his varied attainments and describes his wide circle of acquaintances, many of whom were fellow members of the influential Lunar Society. Much that he achieved has left an intangible legacy, except, of course, his clocks and instruments. This side of Whitehurst has been described in great detail, as well as the clock-making of his family and his successors.Details are given of the many types of clocks that came from the Whitehurst workshops, from complex movements made for Matthew Boulton to simple hook-and-spike wall and watchmen clocks. The book's appendices include details on all known Whitehurst turret clocks and angle barometers, the firm's apprentices and its known numbered clocks. Since his death just over two centuries ago, his achievements have been largely neglected, and this book rehabilitates the reputation of a man whose ideas were of great importance in the development of scientific thought in the eighteenth century.

Three years ago, car designer Olivier Gamiette became fascinated with how watches work and began drawing them in his spare time. He started to educate himself on the different elements that watches possess and how to define their proportions. His goal was to not only draw credible and realistic watches, but also to have them tell time in ways he had never seen before. Thirty-four extraordinary concept watch designs later, Soon presents Gamiette's creations in all their 3D glory. Meet Sentinelle with its six rotating glass cylinders, - the futuristic Celerity with horn-like propellers, and Sublissime with its mesmerizing crisscrossing bands. You can discover these timepieces and the magic each one holds through Gamiette's thoughtful watch descriptions, in-depth design tutorials, and, above all, his conceptual masterpieces.

This book presents complete measured drawings and detailed plans for 20 clocks for the craftsman to make and features designs ranging from period bracket clocks and a traditional long-case to more contemporary styles. Throughout the text there are instructions and the plans are scaled both in metric and imperial units, with a range of suppliers for clock components included.

Margaret Gatty (1809 1873) was an English writer best known for her researches on sundials and British seaweeds. After marrying the Rev. Alfred Gatty in 1839, she moved to Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, where she pursued her literary and scientific studies. This volume, first published in 1872, contains detailed descriptions of various styles of sundials, many taken from Gatty's own collection. Over 350 sundials from across Britain and Europe are described, and each sundial's location is noted in this work, which was one of the first popular books on the subject. Examples included range from portable sundials to early Saxon sundials, as well as the more familiar church sundials. This volume is one of Gatty's best known works, and remains a valuable reference for the various types of sundials and the variations and similarities in their mottoes. For more information on this author, see http: //orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=gattma"

Brings together the output of a forty-year collaborative research project that unpicked and put into practice the fine details of John Harrison's extraordinary pendulum clock system. Harrison predicted that his unique method of making pendulum clocks could provide as much as one-hundred-times the stability of those made by his contemporaries. However, his final publication, which promised to describe the system, was a chaotic jumble of information, much of which had nothing to do with clockwork. One contemporary reviewer of Harrison's book could only suggest that the end result was a product of Harrison's 'superannuated dotage.' The focus of this book centres on the making, adjusting, and testing of Clock B which was the subject of various trials at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The modern history of Clock B is accompanied by scientific analysis of the clock system, Clock B's performance, the methods of data-gathering alongside historical perspectives on Harrison's clockmaking, that of his contemporaries, and some evaluation of the possible influence of early 18th century scientific thought.

This book is a scholarly study of a virtually unknown aspect of the history of horology (timekeeping), compiled from Chinese and Japanese historical and literary records, some of which are translated and published here for the first time. Incense timekeepers played an important role in early Chinese social and technological history, in addition to their use for time measurement. They were used in temples for religious rites, in agricultural regions for regulating water for irrigation, in palaces and government offices, and in the studies of scholars. A fascinating compendium of knowledge about a neglected aspect of Oriental culture, this book will appeal not only to historians of China and Japan, but to the growing number of collectors and museum curators who are interested in incense clocks. It is illustrated with black and white halftones of a large number of the clocks, which are renowned for their beauty of design and quality of workmanship. The book also includes a catalogue of incense clocks which have appeared in auction houses and museums.

Forewords by Jean-Claude Biver (CEO of Tag Heuer) and Aurel Bacs (Christie's and Phillips auctioneers). This breathtaking book explores more than 50 of the rarest watches in the world, including unique examples of which only a single model exists. From watches that have set new records in auction houses, to feats of modern technology and engineering, via iconic models worn by figures such as Elvis Presley and James Bond, this book appeals to professionals, collectors and amateurs alike. The photography in this book is published in collaboration with high-end auction houses and watch manufacturers, displaying some of the rarest, most expensive and sought-after watches in the world in incredible detail.

A General History of Horology describes instruments used for the finding and measurement of time from Antiquity to the 21st century. In geographical scope it ranges from East Asia to the Americas. The instruments described are set in their technical and social contexts, and there is also discussion of the literature, the historiography and the collecting of the subject. The book features the use of case studies to represent larger topics that cannot be completely covered in a single book. The international body of authors have endeavoured to offer a fully world-wide survey accessible to students, historians, collectors, and the general reader, based on a firm understanding of the technical basis of the subject. At the same time as the work offers a synthesis of current knowledge of the subject, it also incorporates the results of some fundamental, new and original research.

'An utterly dazzling book, the best piece of history I have read for a long time' Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps 'Not merely an horologist's delight, but an ingenious meditation on the nature and symbolism of time-keeping itself' Richard Holmes The measurement of time has always been essential to human civilization, from early Roman sundials to the advent of GPS. But while we have one eye on the time every day, are we aware of the power clocks have given governments, military leaders and business owners, and how they have shaped our lives and our world? In this spectacularly far-reaching book, David Rooney narrates a history of timekeeping and civilization in twelve concise chapters. Over their course, we meet the most epochal inventions in horological history, from medieval water clocks to Renaissance hourglasses, and from stock-exchange timestamps to satellites in Earth's orbit. We discover how clocks have helped people navigate the globe and build empires, but also, on occasion, taken us to the brink of destruction. This is the story of time, and the story of time is the story of us.

The pendulum is a constant source of interest to scientists. Great and well-known inventors such as Galileo, Huygens, and Kelvin all devised mechanisms to maintain its even oscillations. The solutions to the essential problem of maintaining a pendulum in motion without disturbing its natural rhythm are as diverse as the characters who devised them.

By tracing the story of his own contributions to this subject, the author illuminates the human ingenuity employed in pursuit of an impossible goal of perfection, and highlights a fascinating corner of technology now overtaken by electronics.

This historical overview of the various styles of American shelf and wall clocks covers the centuries and gives visual pleasure every step of the way. The original owners of these clocks were interested as much in how they looked as in how they told time, so they are quite attractive and are good examples of the cabinet maker's art. The collector can acquire the majority of these beautiful clocks at relatively fair and modest prices, which makes them popular. Gathered from auction houses, museums, and private collections, over 1250 clocks are illustrated here in this newly revised and expanded second edition. Approximately one-third of the photographs are in color, with the remainder in clear black and white. Each is accompanied by an informative caption that will be great help to the reader. A newly updated value guide will be of invaluable assistance to the collector. In illustrating the early growth of the clock making industry in the United States, Mr. Ball has captured an important part of our history.

This book describes the construction of two different clock projects - an eight day regulator clock and a month going regulator clock - and features full-page fully-dimensionalised working drawings supported by detailed photographs. It also includes instructions and plans for constructing glazed wood cases for each project. It is intended for model engineering hobbyists with basic facilities to enable them to venture into the field of horology by building their own precision clocks which can become treasured family heirlooms. The term 'regulator' simply describes a precision clock. Every clockmaker and repairer needs such an instrument to use in regulating his repair and new work. The typical English regulator, as described in the first section, beats at one second intervals and will run for eight days between winding. The second project is a month going regulator clock, an equally high precision type which will run for a whole month between winding. This book is based on a popular series of popular articles originally published over many years in Model Engineer magazine.

Learn the basic movements of a wrist watch and how to repair them on your own. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Presents step-by-step instructions for making a sundial which will illustrate concepts regarding the interrelation of the sun, the earth's rotation, and time.

Since the 13th century, a few special public clocks have included the movement of the sun, moon, earth and other planets, and from those early days Jacks were devised as human figures which actually "struck" the hours. Soon thereafter, automata appeared as mechanical figures that performed many and various acts, such as the four knights on horseback who joust on the hour at the Wells Cathedral in England. Over 300 clocks, for buildings or tabletops, which do far more than tell time, are presented here with concise historical explanations, detailed drawings, and clear color photography. 22 chapters examine the amazing mystery, novelty, and fantasy clocks that display magical acts, appear to require no power to drive them, or have no apparent connection between the movement and the hands. Famous makers in England, Germany, France, and Switzerland created these special clocks which became treasures of royalty throughout Europe and Asia, particularly in Chinese courts. Clocks with mysterious, novel, and fantastic features continue to be made up to the present for retailers such as Asprey and Cartier. For over 700 years these amazing clocks have delighted and challenged all who witness their makers' ingenuity.

The skeleton clock probably is the most fascinating of all clocks. It displays, by means of its fretted-out frame and lack of any protective case other than a glass dome, its inner-most workings. Therefore, this type of clock attracted the attention of some of the finest makers, particularly those working in France from circa 1760-1860 as it enabled them to display their skills so completely. It was for the same reason that it was popular with their wealthy clients, who could show off their latest acquisitions so perfectly. A typical example of this is an amazing clock made by Sarton for the Duke of Lorraine, the dial of which swings to and fro so that wherever you are sitting in the room you can see it clearly. Other examples are the glass-plated clocks which apparently have no frame and often go for six months at a single winding, and clocks which show not only the time but also such things as day, date, month, moons, age and phases, sunrise and sunset, the time in other world locations, and even the equation of time(i.e. the difference between the sun's and our time). Many of these are more than clocks-they are great works of art. Numerous examples, including the products of countries such as France, Holland, Austria, and America are included and fully illustrated, frequently in color, in this book. There is a chapter on modern skeleton clocks that shows that fine clockmaking still is very much alive and well. The fascinating information on skeleton clocks made in America is the first full account to be published in over a decade.

"A Chronometer is a precision watch, which is regulated in various positions and at different temperatures and has received a certificate to that effect." This definition of a chronometer was formulated in 1951 by the Organization of Swiss Watch Manufacturers. This book gives a detailed account of chronometer testing for wristwatches in Europe, with information about testing methods, procedures, and guidelines. as well as participating makers based on Swiss Testing Agencies' yearly reports from 1925 and the Swiss Observatories' reports kept between 1941 and 1967. More than 60 chronometer wristwatches by known makers are discussed, as well as their tests. Types of errors and their possible causes will be pinpointed. Practical chronometer testing will be taught, as will the differences between chronometer and non-chronometer wristwatches from various European countries. In addition to the many photographs in the illustration section, a register listing more than 300 Swiss watch manufacturers who made chronometer wristwatches will be very useful. The reader also receives hints about fakes and forgeries.

"Absolutely essential for all the connoisseurs and Rolex lovers." - Laura Astrologo Porche, celebremagazine world Why do we collect? For some, it is a pursuit of pure passion - those who appreciate the wristwatch as an artform: the intricacy of its mechanics, the finesse of its form. Yet for others, collecting is an investment, and a watch's value is of as much importance as its appearance. All collectors ought to have a guide to models and market value. Rolex: Investing in Wristwatches offers detailed insights into the world of authenticating and pricing high-value wristwatches, which will be of use to collectors from amateur to connoisseur. This publication includes the vast majority of key Rolex models, along with their relevant auction results. The timepieces featured have been carefully selected by Senior Horological Expert, Osvaldo Patrizzi. These wristwatches excel for a diverse range of reasons, including technical excellence, auction records, design and anecdotal history. A description of each watch is accompanied by its picture, reference and sales values (rights included). A comparative analysis of auction results, compiled through close collaboration with the Sotheby's auction house, shows, by brand and timepiece, the evolution of prices over time, leading from the Eighties up to the present day. A system to calculate the currency exchange rate at the time of auction sales will also be included in this vital work of reference.

CHRONOMETERS - Marine and pocket chronometers, pocket watches with tourbillons or carousels form, in the large family of clocks, a small group of very precisely running timepieces with little sensitivity to external influences, such as variations in temperature. In the text, the author takes up the fascinating development and history of the chronometer, portrays the most important manufactures in short biographies, and reports on the great voyages of discovery in the 18th Century that proved the utility of the chronometer as a navigational instrument. The illustration section, divided into five sections on the basis of historical and technical standpoints, portays some 350 items in the antique trade and at auctions or seen in private collections, with special emphasis placed on illustrations of their movements.