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KF5JRV > TECH 24.04.16 14:42l 12 Lines 595 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 1967_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Rolling Ball Clock
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<CX2SA<GB7CIP<N0KFQ<KF5JRV
Sent: 160424/1339Z 1967@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
Rolling Ball clock, about 1820.
The rolling ball clock was invented by 17th century French engineer
Nicolas Grollier. This clock kept time using rolling balls on a zigzag
track. The path took anywhere from 15 seconds to a full minute for the
ball to complete. Once it reached its destination, it tripped a
mechanism that both moved hands of the clock forward and reversed
the tilt to return the ball to its original position. However, the
clocks main flaw was the cleanliness of the track. When dust
accumulated, it slowed the ball down, which resulted in very
unreliable timekeeping.
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