On this episode of the Dogwatch we visit with horologist, museum curator, and author David Rooney. We have the opportunity to talk with David about how he learned about clocks and watches from his parents, his path to becoming a museum curator at several prestigious institutions in England, and some of the most interesting timekeeping devices he has known. David teaches us not only about specific clocks but also about some of the history of how they have been used in human civilizations and their relationship to people and power. This conversation just begins to touch on the wealth of information and fascinating stories David includes in his recent book About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks.
Today we feature the John Harrison clocks, sometimes simply known as “the Harrisons.” These clocks, labeled H1 to H4, were produced by John Harrison in the early 18th century in response to the Longitude Act of 1714, which offered a huge reward for someone who could devise a reliable method for determining longitude at sea. Despite being trained as a carpenter, he started making clocks at the age of 20, and eventually created four of the most important clocks ever built. These clocks, now housed at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, were under the care of our guest while he was curator there.