The Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-Keeper
The post analyzes the 1767 document on John Harrison's marine chronometer, detailing its escapement mechanism, temperature adjustments, and design focus on maintaining a known rate for accurate longitude at sea.
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The post discusses the 1767 document "The Principles of Mr. Harrison's Time-keeper," which details the workings of John Harrison's marine chronometer, H4. The author transcribes and comments on the original text, highlighting the escapement mechanism and adjustments made for temperature and position. Nevil Maskelyne's impartial notes from the 1765 discovery event are included, where Harrison demonstrated the watch's mechanics. The document explains how the balance of the watch vibrates differently based on its position and how adjustments are made to ensure accurate timekeeping. Harrison's design lacks a mean time adjustment, focusing instead on maintaining a known rate for determining longitude at sea. The author notes the importance of temperature compensation and the unique role of air resistance in Harrison's design philosophy. The balance's diameter and the watch's performance are also discussed, emphasizing the balance's vibrations and the watch's operational efficiency. The commentary reflects on the technical aspects of Harrison's innovations and their implications for marine navigation.
- The post transcribes and comments on a historical document about John Harrison's marine chronometer.
- It highlights the mechanics of the escapement and adjustments for temperature and position.
- Harrison's design prioritizes a known rate over mean time adjustments for accurate longitude determination.
- The role of air resistance in the watch's performance is noted as a unique aspect of Harrison's philosophy.
- The balance's dimensions and vibration rates are discussed in relation to the watch's efficiency.
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8 commentsAlso, if you can find the book by Williams called "From Sails to Satellites: The Origin and Development of Navigational Science" you'll laugh out loud at his wit about navigation throughout the book.
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