Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-01
SEA CLOCKS ARE
m GREAT DEMAND


people supplying the United States
with war materials are the makers of
chronometers. Great care and pre-
cision are necessary in turning out
these navigating instruments, which
are the most accurate portable time
keepers known to science.
Hundreds of chronometers have gone
to the bottom of the ocean since
the war began. This alone would
cause shortage in the ordinary sup
ply. while the equipping OF the new
American merchant marine is creating
an unprecedented demand for new in
struments. Each of the 1900 ships to
be added to the national cargo-carrying
feet under the shipping boards con-
struction program. will carry two. and
many Of them three chronometers.
At present there are virtually no
chronometers to be had in the open
market. Before the war England sup
piled the world with most of its fine
chronometers. Chronometers are also
made in America, though the English
type still is most esteemed by sailors.
In ordinary times a good chronome-
ter costs about 5000. The present price
is $500 or better according to the trade
made. The supply in this country
passes through the hands of few ex-
perts, who are doing their utmost to
meet the demand, and to expedite the
output of the manufacturer.
From six months to a year and Il
half are necessary TO make and adjus,
q chronometer. The mechanism is of
the finest metals, and specially adapt
ed to resistance to extremes Of tenn
perature. A high-gra chronometer
will keep Just as good time if kept in
cold storage six months as in ordinary
temperature, while a voyage in the
tropics will not seriously change its
time excepting qualities.
In appearance a chronometer is a
small, metalfaced clock. 1t is kept in
a wooden case, usually of mahogany,
and is swung on gimbals, to keep it
always on q level. 1t is sensitive to
rough handling. and care is always
taken not to jar it.
Errors Are Noted.
No clock or watch has ever yet kept
perfect time, so there is always a
slight gain or loss to chronometer.
For this reason the chronometer's rate
of daily gain or loss is determined BY
observation ashore, and card show
ing the rate is made out and deliv.
cred with the instrument This rate
of error is allowed in all notations of
time made from the instrument for
working up observations made at sea.
4 gain or loss of second a day is
considered Large rate" for good
instrument.
The chrOnometer completes, with
the compass and seXtant, the trio of
Indispensable instruments required in
modern navigation. BY it's aid, longi-
tude, or the east or west position of a
ship, is determined
Longitude baff1ed all navigators un-
til the chronometer came into use in
1875. The ancients and later naviga-
tors. including all the great discover
ers, could find their latitude by OBJ
servations of the suns height, but they
could determine their longitude only
by dead reckoning" or estimating
their ships progress from day 10 day.
This system was uncertain, ana
caused a great many shipwrecks
Longitude is merely the difference
of time between two points on the
earth's surface, and it became appar-
ent to students of the problem it pre-
sented that if an instrument could be
devised that would keep accurate time
at sea, it would be possible to find the
longitude of ships position whenever
weather conditions We're favorable
Time at the ship could be determined
IX OF
SUM- morning or afternoon, worked out
by accepted tables. If the time of a
given point on shore was known
aboard the ship. the difference in time
would give the longitude of the ship.
England was the first nation to cope
with this great problem. In 1714 it ap-
pointed commissioners for the Dis
covery Of Longitude at Sea-" and au-
thoriZed the payment of large prizes
to stimulate research to the desired
end. This commission existed until
1928. and distributed more than $780,
600 in prizes.
Wins 100000 Prize.
The chief prize offered by the COM
mission, 100000, was Won by John
Harrison, Yorkshire Matchmaker.
WHO spent HIS NE III peTIect1nS the
chronometer.
Harrison made the best watches in
England. Although of limited educa-
ton, he conducted many original re-
searches in the expansion of metals,
in search Of materials for an improved
watch or clock. that would prove i'm
pervious to changes of temperature.
His first great feat was the production
OF "gridiron pendulum clock the
first chronometer, which In 1885 he
took to the royal commission. 1t was
tested by the commission by beings
sent on voyage TO Lisbon.
The test was not decisive, and Har
rson continued to work on his chro-
nometer, seeking the great prize. for a
period Of 26 Years. In 1861, when six
Weight years old. Harrison announced
that he had solved all problems in
volved in his work. He produced a
which the commission
sent on a voyage to Jamaica, to test
for heat. 1t varied but two minutes
on the entire voyage of several months.
The commission demanded another
test, and the chronometer was sent to
Barbados, varying but two-thirds or
q second a week in voyage of five
Harrison had now fairly won the
prize. but he was paid only half of it.