Seth Thomas 30 hour, weight driven OG style clock inspired by the innovations of Eli Terry. From my collection.
He had the contract to build 4,000 clocks in three years. Then he had to figure how to do it. When Eli Terry fulfilled his contact in 1810 he was the first clockmaker to apply mass production techniques to the clock industry1. Terry was assisted in his Connecticut clock shop by Seth Thomas, who would go on to leave his own mark on the world of time keeping.
Regional Occupational Program
How does a young man born in 1772 to a farmer go on to revolutionize the production of an industry without a formal education? From a brief biography of Terry and his town of East Windsor on the Connecticut River, “from as early as 1650, decreed that every child and apprentice in town should be taught to read, write and follow some useful trade or calling.”2 Eli Terry went through a 7 year apprenticeship with Daniel Burnap, a local clock maker.
Hypocycloidal and involute curves
Contrary to what you may think, building a clock, given you have the right equipment, is not all that difficult. However, to actually design a clock movement from scratch requires basic education skills plus a strong handle on algebra and geometry3. Not only did Eli Terry have to design the clock movement, he had to do so around new production equipment he designed and built. In other words, he not only designed the engine for the car, but the factory that built the engine!
Stunting growth
Before we acquired our independence from England, communities understood the necessity of
American Clocks and Clock Makers by Carl W. Dreppard
supporting public educational opportunities for all children. It came as quite a surprise when I read that the Texas Republican Party actually wants to remove Higher Order Thinking Skills from their curriculum. It was these same critical thinking skills that allowed Eli Terry to build upon his past education with new ideas.
Rebels and patriots
We need children that will question their teachers and think outside the proverbial box. I was ecstatic when my son was able to flip labels and intentions around with respect to civil wars. He used his Higher Order Thinking Skills to realize that the term of terrorist, rebel, or patriot were not dependent on the actions but on the perspective of the observer. (8th Grade patriotism essay) A strong public education system along with great parent volunteers, teachers and administrators made his Higher Order Thinking Skills possible.
What will you build today?
Okay, so my son has not designed a new factory or built a mechanical clock. The industry that Eli Terry was such a pioneer for has largely faded away into dusty history books. But the genesis for both of their thinking skills started with mentors and teachers. Communities across America need to maintain the commitment to public education as a means of fostering creative thought for new ideas and innovation. I think Eli Terry would be proud of what America has accomplished even if we no longer have a mechanical clock industry in America.
1. Two Hundred Years of American Clocks & Watches, Pages 102 – 105, Chris Bailey, A Rutledge Book Prentice-Hall Inc. 1975
2. The History of Clocks and Watches, Page 153, Eric Burton, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., 1979
3. Practical Clock Repairing, Pages 45 – 60, Donald de Carle, N.A.G. Press, Ltd, 1968