There is also a construction scheme where the pendulum is made of parallel rods? with different thermal expansion coefficients, a gridiron pendulum. There may be other names for it.

The appearance is sufficiently striking that some consumer market grandfather clocks simulate the aperance without the functionality.

On 7/11/24 06:51, Nate Crouch wrote:

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...?