Clocks And Watches In The 16th Century Essay

1. Clock-watches: Clock-watches are first to be worn as timepieces in the 16th century and which were made in the German cities namely Nuremberg and Augsburg, these were in transitional in size which were said to be between clocks and watches. These were worn around the neck on a chain or fastened to clothing. Clock-watches had only an hour hand. And its face was covered with brass cover which was designed with grillwork so that time could be seen without opening it up. And its face was not designed with glass. The shape of clock-watches later changed into rounder form and for that reason they were called as “Nuremberg eggs”.
2. Pocket watches:
During seventeenth

The balance wheel oscillator used in balance spring, which helped in ‘beat’ resistant that reduced disturbance. As a result minute hand has been used in Britain in 1680 and in France since 17th century. The very first improvement made in this was escapement, this helped in giving a wheel a short push escaping from the detached which results in reduction of inaccuracy of time.

4. Temperature compensation and chronometers:
The problem with balance spring was it used to change its balance spring elasticity with changes in temperature. And this was solved by Pierre Le Roy in 1765 by introducing bimetallic temperature compensation, which then was improved by Thomas Earnshaw.
Bimetallic temperature compensation had two semicircular arms which were made of bimetallic construction. Any changes in temperature arms use to bent inward little causing wheel to move or rotate properly.
5. Lever escapement:
This was introduced by Thomas Mudge back in 1759 and later it was improved by Josiah Emery in 1785 and it came into use from 1800. In almost every watches lever was used, and in such kind of escapement T shaped lever had been used. The use of leverage is that it allows the wheel to swing completely.
6. Mass