amazing old clock

[SteveP]

saw this when in Prague.
incredible.

One of the World’s Oldest Clocks Stops Ticking, Briefly - The New York Times

These astronomical clocks are beyond words...
they track the planets, sunrise, sunset, the seasons..
wild..

[AngryScientist]

wow steve, cool!

the engineering marvel that started ticking in 1410

the precision they were able to make the mechanisms in these old clocks is truly astonishing. mechanical clocks and watches, especially with interesting complications - are just too cool.

thanks for sharing that article, here's to the best of luck to Mr. Skala!

[j44ke]

Best place to get pickpocketed in Prague.

Everyone stands around looking up at the clock, waiting for it to chime and do its thing, while the pickpockets move through the crowd looking for opportunity.

But on a happier note, I have not lived in a place where so many people had so much mechanical ability. Every person we met had a relative - dad, mom, uncle, cousin - who could disassemble an airplane (ok, slight exaggeration) and reassemble it with common tools. Or we'd go to someone's village to visit family, and at some point we'd go out to a garage where there would be a project involving motors, jet engines, clockworks, hydropower, solar cells, etc. etc. etc. This Petr Skala is quite a guy and very typically (I think) Czech in his abilities.

[SteveP]

a Prague classic...
in the old library that is near the charles bridge...
there are 2 astronomical clocks...
remarkable devices no doubt...
but the bishop condemned the maker because he had the earth rotating around the sun.. which was obviously wrong.
the bishop forced the clockmaker to make one that was correct...
sun rotating around the earth.
he made the clock earth centered...
of course it never worked correctly.. the planets were always off.
i still laugh about these 2 clocks next to each other.

beautiful city prague.
i was there during the euro cup in 08...
in a bar watching the Prague/ Turkey ( i thk) game...
boisterous bar, everybody so happy... Czech up 2-0.
i go to bathroom, come out to complete silence...
Czech losing 2-3 in 5 minutes.
ouch.

[choke]

wow steve, cool!



the precision they were able to make the mechanisms in these old clocks is truly astonishing. mechanical clocks and watches, especially with interesting complications - are just too cool.

I agree....those old clockmakers did some amazing things.

While it is a modern design I think you could appreciate the Türler Clock. This is a pretty good video about it -

[one60]

another cool clock...the 10,000 year clock in west Texas

1, Year Clock
long-now-clock.jpg

[LarryA]

Seeing as we're on about clocks;-). Harrison's clocks at Greenwich (the first chronometers) are marvels. Dana Sorbel's "Longitude" - which provides the story of how and why they were developed - is well worth a read.

John Harrison's 'longitude' clock sets new record - 3�� years on | The Independent

[Matthew Strongin]

Thanks for sharing, Steve. That's one of my favorite sites in one of my favorite cities. I went for the first time at 18 while backpacking and went back 18 years later with my wife. I should go more frequently.

[SteveP]

Seeing as we're on about clocks;-). Harrison's clocks at Greenwich (the first chronometers) are marvels. Dana Sorbel's "Longitude" - which provides the story of how and why they were developed - is well worth a read.

John Harrison's 'longitude' clock sets new record - 3�� years on | The Independent

good book. i enjoyed it. sparked a revolution.