INDEX & INTRODUCTION TO
A SERIES OF 5 ARTICLES ON



The Invention of the
Pendulum Clock.






INTRODUCTION

The exhibition:

Innovation & Collaboration
The early development of the pendulum clock in London

was held at Bonhams London
from 3 till 14 September 2018.


First and foremost, the initiators, organisers and anyone involved in the collecting and exhibiting
of these magnificent early clocks deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.

Despite the beautiful exhibition, we however strongly object to the poor research method, the text and conclusions of Richard Garnier’s and Leo Hollis’ research as well as to the new interpretation of the famous Coster-Fromanteel contract. As a result hereof, the attribution of exhibit numbers 23 and 24 to specifically John Fromanteel is unjustified.

Garnier’s and Hollis’ research is predominantly based upon assumptions, interpretations and
probabilities and not on historical facts and scientific evidence.

Richard Garnier- Leo Hollis

Richard Garnier & Leo Hollis

They have tried to clarify the specific role of Christiaan Huygens, Salomon Coster and John and
Ahasuerus Fromanteel in relation to the history of Drebbel, Hartlib and Wallis and their mutual relations.

Due to a combination of language barrier, insufficient archive research, lack of Dutch historical archive knowledge and Fromanteel tunnel vision, they failed to make their new theory credible.

Notwithstanding the fact that there is no or almost no evidence of Fromanteel’s involvement in the early development of the pendulum clock, there is on the other hand an overwhelming amount of historical as well as scientific evidence of Salomon Coster’s involvement.

Sadly enough, this casts a shadow over what was intended to be a once in a lifetime exhibition.

The conclusion of Garnier’s and Hollis’ research calls for a well-founded scientific reply. Our four
articles published here are written in relation to their publication and meant to put the historical
puzzle pieces back into their rightful place.



Content:
 
Part 1: The real story
.

Part 2: The workshop of Salomon Coster
.

Part 3: Dealing with and interpreting historical sources
.

Part 4: The Sequel, more inventions
.

Part 5:
Salomon Coster the clockmaker of Christiaan Huygens



Part 3.   Dealing with and interpreting historical sources
 
The year 1657
The experimental phase
The Patent
Speculations versus historical documents
Fact finding
Two G's
Notarial practise
Reading errors
Historical knowledge
Notes
   
Part 4.  The Sequel, more inventions
 
Setting the scene
Huygens and Thuret
Sea clocks
The spiral balance spring
The live of Thuret
The works of Thuret
Two astronomical machines
Notes
   
Part 5.  Salomon Coster the clockmaker of Christiaan Huygens

The production and development
of the first pendulum clocks
in the period 1657 – September 1658

 
Published articles
The notes of Christiaan Huygens
December 1656 - June1657
June1657 - December 1657
January 1658 - September 1658
Summary
Conclusions
Notes
   





     THE AUTHORS     
  
Hans van den Ende Hans van den Ende MSc
Ben Hordijk Ben Hordijk
Victor Kersing Victor Kersing
Rob Memel BA Rob Memel BA

 
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