2-day Marine Chronometer
Title
2-day Marine Chronometer
Subject
Astronomy
Clocks
Clocks
Description
Mahogany wood, brass, silver, glass
Chronometer of 56-hour duration is set in gimbals in a mahogany box. Serial number #2805. John Bliss and Company was active 1857-1956.
Marine chronometer within wood box with hinged lid measuring 7-inches by 7-inches by 7-inches. Includes a label with University of Illinois in script. A pendulum clock would not work well on an ocean vessel. Knowing the time to within a second was critical for marine vessels to determine their position and navigate. A 19th century marine chronometer used a balance wheel to regulate the time. In addition they were gimbaled within the box to counter the movement of the ship.
A photograph from Oct 5, 1957 shows a box chronometer sitting next to radio receiving equipment that was being used to track Sputnik. Unknown which chronometer but it shows that at least one existed until 1957. Stebbins listed as worth $50 in 1908.
Chronometer of 56-hour duration is set in gimbals in a mahogany box. Serial number #2805. John Bliss and Company was active 1857-1956.
Marine chronometer within wood box with hinged lid measuring 7-inches by 7-inches by 7-inches. Includes a label with University of Illinois in script. A pendulum clock would not work well on an ocean vessel. Knowing the time to within a second was critical for marine vessels to determine their position and navigate. A 19th century marine chronometer used a balance wheel to regulate the time. In addition they were gimbaled within the box to counter the movement of the ship.
A photograph from Oct 5, 1957 shows a box chronometer sitting next to radio receiving equipment that was being used to track Sputnik. Unknown which chronometer but it shows that at least one existed until 1957. Stebbins listed as worth $50 in 1908.
Creator
John Bliss & Company, New York
Source
Harvard has an example, serial number 2620 dates 1880s at http://waywiser.fas.harvard.edu/objects/2763/56hour-marine-chronometer
Publisher
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Il
Date
Circa 1885
Contributor
Michael Svec
Rights
copyright Michael Svec
Language
English
Type
physical object
Identifier
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A128
Coverage
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Files
Collection
Citation
John Bliss & Company, New York, “2-day Marine Chronometer,” University of Illinois Observatory Collection, accessed March 29, 2024, https://uiobservatory.omeka.net/items/show/72.