Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The Timekeeper's Things



Dennis Harmon was a famous horologist who repaired clocks and watches for clients all over the world.  When he died Brittany Cox, an antiquarian horologist, was hired to sort through the stuff he left behind in his workshop in Connecticut. She has been working in this Bulova green mechanical wonderland for six months and the contents are fascinating:

There are microscopes and magnifiers and bottles and beakers. There’s a rose engine, which looks like it could power a small car but which is actually used to cut delicate, flower-like designs. There are jars of saffron. Why saffron? "Likely for gilding," says Brittany. "In medieval times, sometimes you used saffron for getting the color of the gold just right."

And all of it will soon be sold in Wolcott, Connecticut.  The Harmon Estate Sale starts on June 11th and goes until June 15th.




More: Radiolab



Thanks for this goody,  Prickly Legs

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