The development of the marine chronometer is irrevocably linked to the intense rivalry and war among the British, French, Dutch and Spanish in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries for domination of the seas to protect their trading vessels and expand their empires. Every ship's captain had the same problem: at sea, he could not establish his position within hundreds of miles to the east or west. The best solution seemed to be a clock to calculate how much the Earth had turned and thus accurately to establish longitude. It would have to be as accurate on a pitching and tossing sailing ship as a precision pendulum clock on shore. Each nation offered inducements to inventors. In 1714, the British government put up prizes totalling GBP45,000, worth over GBP2 million today. The sum of GBP20,000 was eventually won by a Yorkshire clockmaking genius, John Harrison, whose first trade was carpentry. Over the years that followed, marine chronometers were developed and produced in large numbers. They are all collectors' items today. For many years, Tony Mercer, grandson of the most enduring English maker, has studied and collected a huge amount of information about these remarkable instruments that enabled explorers and the Royal Navy to map the world, the Navy to police it, and merchant venturers to sail in relative safety. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the chronometer was one of the foundation stones of the British Empire. The purpose of the chronometer is reviewed largely as a navigational aid for ocean-going vessels, but also for survey, medical and other activities calling for precise time measurement. A complete chapter is devoted to John Harrison, rightly described as maker extraordinary, giving a fascinating insight into his herculean efforts to produce a timekeeper that would satisfy all the requirements of the Commissioners of Longitude. Other great makers including John Arnold, Thomas Earnshaw, Le Roy, Berthoud, Frodsham, Dent, Kullberg and Tom Mercer are acknowledged for their evolutionary skills. Representative examples of chronometers and deck watches by international makers - from the earliest known to contemporary instruments - are illustrated in both colour and black and white. A comprehensive list of makers and craftsmen brings together details of men who worked in the industry, their places of work and dates and serial numbers for their instruments. There is also an extensive bibliography.

About the Author

Tony (F.A.) Mercer is the grandson of Thomas Mercer, the watch and chronometer maker of Liverpool, London and St Albans, who founded the family firm of Thomas Mercer Ltd which had a long illustrious history as a prolific maker of these instruments. Tony Mercer was born in St Albans, and was educated at Sedbergh School and the Ecole National d'Horologerie at Cluses, in Haute Savoie, France, where he learnt the skills of watch and clockmaking as well as toolmaking. While there he worked in all departments of the factory, including five years as a chronometer springer. During his working life he has been president and chairman of the British Horological Institute, Master of the Clockmaker's Company and chairman of the Watch and Clock Manufacturers' Association. At one time he was also chairman of the British Nautical Instrument Trade Association. He has written many articles and given lectures on the marine chronometer, and his earlier book, Mercer Chronometers: Radical Tom Mercer and the House He Founded, is still much sought after. Tony Mercer is now retired and lives in Cumbria.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Symposia is a not for profit community building project supported mainly through book sales.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Symposia Community Bookstore INC
NJ, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

TBA

Right of withdrawal

If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

Information regarding the right of withdrawal

Statutory right to withdraw

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Symposia Community Bookstore INC, Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

The right of withdrawal does not apply to:

The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.

Shipping Terms

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 14 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	� 3.78	� 9.82

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.