The Essentials of Precision Timekeeping

Explore the fascinating world of precision timekeeping in this comprehensive lecture by Jack Forster, Editor-in-Chief of HODINKEE. Delve into the historical evolution of timekeeping devices, from ancient astronomical phenomena to modern mechanical watches. Examine the challenges faced in achieving accurate timekeeping, including thermal expansion and air resistance. Discover the significance of various escapement mechanisms, with a focus on John Harrison's groundbreaking H4 watch. Learn about the continuous improvements in balance spring design and the multitude of escapements invented over the past five centuries. Gain insights into the Horological Society of New York's initiatives, including the Henry B. Fried Scholarship and Traveling Education programs.

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