Great post! ?The stories of skilled artisans that changed the world thru their craft can be incredibly inspiring. I first learned of Harrison in the book, The Perfectionists by Simon Winchester, and wanted to recommend it for many reasons. I'm reading Longitude now, and I swear you couldn't make up a more interesting story.
?A tidbit in reference to the use of wood in tall clocks that I came across some years back ( and will happily be corrected ) is that it only expands and contracts across its width, ( across the grain ) and not its length.
Therefore it was for some time the material of choice for the pendulum rod, later a special alloy was created for this purpose? I have often wondered to what extent this was true...?
