Role of stopwatch in industry

As a result of industrialization developed from the mid-19th Century in various centers, mass production of watches. In Germany, especially the watch production in the Black Forest was significant in France, like the development of Morbier-stopwatch clock serve as an example. In the United States, especially the pocket of industrial production became popular. After initially very high quality production, the pocket watch walked there quickly to successful mass-produced. The so-called U.S. dollar watch, a simple type of watch for everyone was, 20 from different manufacturers to the Century sold millions of times.
Precision stopwatch clocks of Sigmund Riefler

At the end of the 19th Strasser & Rhode century and developed in Germany Sigmund Riefler precision stopwatch clocks, which were for many years the most precise stopwatch clocks, and were used primarily for business purposes and to astronomical observations.

Advances in precision engineering and later the electronics also allow for very sophisticated manufacturing of pocket watches with a Grande Complication.

With the advent of widespread power quickly led to the wish to use electricity for stopwatch. A first step was the drawing up of movements by a mains electric motor. Tower stopwatch clocks with heavy weights and precision watches that should run as undisturbed as possible, was equipped with it. Electrically reared balance watches were used eg in timers.

The regulator (pendulum or balance) of mechanical watches can also be driven electromagnetically and a ratchet rotate the wheels. Such watches were there as a wall stopwatch clock with a permanent magnet bearing "balance", which was driven by fixed coils. Many electric stopwatch clocks have traded today but only a mock pendulum, the stopwatch clock itself is powered by a quartz movement.

For the rapid spread of the national railways, it was a necessity, time signals to be transmitted over long distances. Master stopwatch clocks in public stopwatch clocks plants was time for adjustment from electrical impulses to remove standing daughter watches, which were driven by a simple sequencer. It also heralded the end of the regional and local times led to social change.
Railway stopwatch clock: → Main article

A historically short but major Intermezzo represent the synchronous stopwatch clocks that used the line frequency of the AC mains as normal time. They were inexpensive to produce and disseminate a large watches in the industry and in public institutions.

At the beginning of the 19th Century were isolated miniature stopwatch clocks built into decorative ribbons and worn on the arm. They must be seen as a forerunner of modern wristwatches, which were first produced in 1880 for the German navy in series. After the turn of the century, the watches put first as a handsome watch against the much larger pocket watches. Especially in the grave battles of World War I showed the watch their practical advantages over the pocket and learned first major improvements, such as luminescent hands and screw-down case against moisture. However, athletes and pilots set early on the benefits of the wristwatch .

The final breakthrough helped the invention of the automatic wristwatch by John Harwood (1923) and the introduction of the waterproof stopwatch clock by Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex Oyster, 1926). The development of shock protection was another step towards practicality. Around 1930, the watch had already reached the sales of pocket watches, 1934, it ruled two thirds of the market.
Watch: → Main article
Digital stopwatch clock
One of the cesium atomic stopwatch clocks of the PTB in Braunschweig

The first quartz watch in 1921, developed by HM Dadourian based with on short implemented after World War I by Paul Langevin ultrasonic experiments quartz crystals. The timing of a quartz watch is not a pendulum or balance, but an electronic crystal oscillator whose frequency is maintained using a quartz crystal to accurately.

First, such watches were not available as a consumer product, but sat by the early 1970s because of the high accuracy at a moderate price and very low maintenance on the market and took the watchmaking industry in the quartz crisis. The classic mechanical stopwatch clock was displaced by the quartz watch in almost all areas of life completely. For several years she lived as a wristwatch a remarkable revival.
Watch: → Main article
Kitchen stopwatch clock with timer (1956)

A final step to the highest present accuracy of timekeeping was the development of the atomic stopwatch clock, which was used in 1949 for the first time. Atomic stopwatch clocks use the radiative transitions of free atoms or ions as a timer and see the science of navigation in space and time as a normal application.
Atomic stopwatch clock: → Main article

stopwatch clocks whose time display is controlled by a radio signal, called radio stopwatch clocks one. Since the 1960s, all available wireless stopwatch clocks are synchronized by central European time services. They are matched in 1966 by the first European transmitter HBG time with atomic stopwatch clocks of the Federal Office of Metrology and since 1967 by the DCF77 with an atomic stopwatch clock, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. From the measured values ​​of more than 260 atomic stopwatch clocks in over 60 institutions worldwide distributed the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris lays down the International Atomic Time (TAI) [16] as a reference time. In recent years, a whole host of additional electronic distribution mechanisms for time signal has been established, which are accessible via the RDS service the FM car radio, teletext and the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of the television and via the NTP protocol of the Internet .

Stopwatch clock in modern times

Firstly the domestic clocks had obtained a housing to protect them from dust and hence from abrasion. The shape of the watch was now the particular taste and fashion of the time and was not infrequently took the function of the timing behind the jewelry of the outer form.

Secondly, it was possible to reduce the timer stopwatch clock by new inventions, other materials and better tools and on. By the use of brass for the gears, these could be made much smaller. The door locks are already known spring was taken as energy storage for the movement and made it in, regardless of the installation location. The oldest surviving clock with spring drive is from around 1430, Peter Henlein of Nuremberg built around 1504 this spring drive in conjunction with a restlessness among the first in a clock and was able to reduce it as pocket size. 
The clock was not only independent of the installation site, they could also be worn while continuously display the time. From the mid-17th Century, the first pocket watches were produced with verge escapement. Many important watchmakers in England, France and Germany produced the highest quality pieces and competed in their continuous improvement. In America, we followed a different path, where we took off in the early 19th Century with industrial mass production to the production of very low-cost pocket watches.

The development of the clock that is divided into two main types of clocks, the stationary and portable Large clock watch movements, were asked to later fundamentally different requirements.
Jost Burgi: Mechanical celestial globe made in 1594 in Kassel, now the Swiss National Museum in Zurich
John Harrison's chronometer H5

As typical examples of the Renaissance many clocks table clocks are received. They are characterized by plants with verge escapement and balance wheel, barrel with power transmission over gut strings and screws, wheels of fire-gilt brass or copper base plates made of brass and molded pillars. 

Some of them have an hour or quarter hour strike on bell and clock. The housing have a basic geometric shape are pierced gilt brass or bronze and in filigree work. Rare specimens have astronomical viewing or imaginative figurative point.
Even before the introduction of the pendulum was built sporadically already watches minute hand. From the 16th Century pieces of Jost Burgi known that even had dials for second hand, even if the accuracy of the watch such an exact time measurement allowed only from about 1700.
On the brink of winning the Baroque representation of characters and the creative variety of watch cases become increasingly important (example: Carteluhr). 

Especially from the German centers of Augsburg and Nuremberg from 1600 at the latest are many beautiful designs with cases in animal shapes and made of precious metals such as silver and gold. The mechanical precision of timing came in meaning behind the fascination with the machine, with its wonderful features.

With the introduction of the pendulum as a regulator was a revolutionary discovery, which laid the foundation for the scientific chronometer and construction of precision clocks. 

Galileo Galilei, brilliant scientist and pioneer of the Copernican world view, described in 1583 the pendulum laws and discovered the isochronism. He devised a mechanism with free escapement and pendulum, but he could not finish his lifetime. 1656 the Dutch astronomer, mathematician and physicist Christiaan Huygens developed independently by Galileo and had the same idea of ​​Salomon Coster make the first pendulum clock.

 A short time later, in 1680, was developed by William Clement, the anchor escapement for clocks. The mechanical clock came therefore to a yet unknown precision of a few seconds on average deviation per day. As a result, the regulator of many old watches were replaced with spherical and minute hands are generally introduced.

Foci of watchmaking were in the time to the Netherlands and England, especially London there. The basic features of the main Dutch watches types Haagse Klok, Stoelklok and the Frisian clocks can be directly attributed to the built by Salomon Coster clocks. In England with the introduction of the anchor escapement created the first case clocks, called Grandfather Clocks, which were combined with the bracket clocks become synonymous with English Clocks. 

The Pendulum as a medium, a table or a wall bracket as alternate end pendulum developed in France (Blois and Paris) with various body styles and regional forms, and later also in Switzerland (Neuchatel and Geneva). In Germany, the importance of the pendulum long misunderstood and so lost the German centers of Augsburg and Nuremberg and its leadership fell behind.

Between 1720 and 1780 in England were called coach watches, oversized watches with shock and occasionally play works as a travel clock very popular. They were later replaced by the Carriage Clock and the French Pendule d'Officier.

A flourishing however competitive trade with the colonies of European powers in overseas placed the highest demands on the maritime industry. For safe navigation, precision timekeeping was essential importance. Finding a solution to the length problem, ie the determination of the longitude on the open sea, lasted despite ausgelobter for huge prize money to more than 150 years. The problem was finally solved in 1759 by John Harrison with the construction of its marine chronometers.

Stopwatch clock in middle ages

In addition to the sun and water clocks became established from 900 AD in Europe and the Candle watch. Candles with defined shapes and sizes from burned in a particular time period, and on the basis of marks could be read the elapsed countdown timer. 

These watches could be used not only independent of daylight, but were also easy to handle and readily available. In addition to the candles and oil lamps were, slowly burn off, fuses and fire watches in China also, sometimes used with the passage of time alternating fragrances.

The medieval life was regulated by a variety of bell towers of the church and city. Not only the prayer times of the monasteries, but also eg opening times of gates, court and market times and other important times of the day and night were heralded by the watchmen. For this purpose, a reliable indicator of the time was needed, a need that did not meet the sun and water clocks.

As an epochal invention must be considered inhibition, which only allowed the development of the mechanical clock. Since pre-Christian times gears were usedand by the Arab Water clocks complicated machines were known, but only the inhibition made from the free running gear a clock. From when the mechanical clock was used is not known.

The mechanical clock was quickly watchmen use to display the right time for the striking of the bells. First, the watch towers with alarm mechanism and chime hung in the parlor of the watchman, they later migrated as large, wrought-iron clock tower in the town halls, church and watch towers to the public display the time. The regulator earlier mechanical clocks was the Foliot, a simple but robust device that allowed passage accuracies of about 10 minutes per day. These watches were set using sundials or lunch referrers to the local time.

The earliest record of a mechanical clock is dated in 1335 and refers to a device in the chapel of the palace of the Visconti of Milan. With the invention of the striking clock, it was possible for the first time in 1344, equinoctial hours mechanical read. In 1370 in Paris, a first striking clock publicly visible at the Tour de l'Horloge mentioned corner tower of the Palais de la Cité was affixed. In the 14th Century in Europe originated in rapid succession many public mechanical clocks, of which about 500 are now documented yet. In addition, a large number of clocks can be assumed that there were no documented expression.

Above all, the findings of astronomy and mathematics at that time took great influence on the development of the mechanical clock. Some monumental astronomical clock with a variety of complicated ads from this period. European monarchs and wealthy citizens by the same principle smaller clocks were made of iron. Although they had astronomical ads, they served mostly representative purposes. At the same time took place to change from public to domestic clock.

Hourglasses spread simultaneously in Central Europe with the mechanical clocks in the 14th Century. Centers for their production were Nuremberg and Venice, who possessed suitable sand deposits. hourglasses are only suitable for the measurement of relatively short periods of time and were, for example, in shipping to determine the travel speed and the ship's bell clock to the 19th Century in use.

First, mechanical clocks, made apart from some individual artists, especially from locksmiths or gunsmiths and repairs that were already organized in guilds in the Middle Ages. From their ranks are specialized master of the craft of watchmaking. Already in 1450 are independent watchmakers guilds, such as Vienna, detectable.  Very soon after the invention of the mechanical clock-iron, there were also attempts to build such a watch made of wood. Also, tower of online stopwatch clocks, some of which were made of wood, are well known.  Contrary to common opinion, the first wooden wheel clocks were far from simple commodities, but often artfully crafted and designed for princes or high clergy. It was not until the early 17th Century there was a rapid and wide dissemination of simple wooden wheel clocks in Central Europe, especially in Switzerland, France and Southern Germany

The stopwatch clock history

The clock (from Middle Low German for (e), originally Latin hora, the hour ') is a meter that displays the current time or a time period measured. In its several millennia evolution from simple to high-precision atomic clock Elementaruhr stood and stands them in more complex interaction of cultural, technological and social development of humanity.

The online stopwatch represents a fundamental parameter of human life - the time. In the symbolism of art and it stands for the eternal flow of time, as vanitas motif for impermanence and our mortality. It appears in representations but also as an indication of wealth or as an attribute of Temperance, moderation. Today the clock has become an indispensable companion in various areas of everyday life. The watch accompany its wearer as always-time display.

The electronic clock is found in many everyday items, from household appliances over the TV and radio alarm clock to the computer and mobile phone. In the technical world of work determines the timing of both complicated production processes, as well as simply the length of the working day for the employees. The Elementaruhr the mechanical clock and have lost their central role in timekeeping today though, but still enjoy great popularity among enthusiasts and collectors of antiques.
Even in antiquity, told the man his daily routine through observation of the heavenly bodies the sun and moon. Rising and setting of the sun and its highest at midday it was striking moments, could the wandering shadows through simple marks, the time will be divided. In ancient Egypt, this became the shadow clock developed.

The days were divided into a certain number of seasonal hours, the length, however, changed continuously during the seasons. At least since the Middle Kingdom diagonal star clocks were in use, the hour division was based on movements of constellations and aligned with the principle was äqualen hours. Coffin Texts of each era can be seen that the diagonal star clocks according to Egyptian mythology should be the deceased help her sky rise.

Since the 16th Century BC, the use of the water clock in ancient Egypt is known. The official Amenemhet invented in the reign of Amenhotep I a water meter with an improved timing.

Water clocks consisted of a vessel in the water either expired or off. Water level at the time could be read independently of the daylight and at regular time intervals. Water clocks allowed so the use of the uniform, äqualen hours that found in modified form in Babylonia, for example, as Danna application. Later they used the water clock with train wheels connected float, which allowed a time display on the dials. In Greece, these watches were used to limit the speaking time in court. The phrase "Time is up" can be traced back to it.

The technique of sundials and water clock timer was adopted by the Romans and the Roman Empire spread. In Trier, the Roman Augusta Treverorum, 1913, the foundations of the tower were discovered, the likely the Tower of the Winds, a combined solar and water meter in Athens, have been almost identical. [3] It is expected that these techniques to the latest time of the Germanic provinces of Rome were known in our region, even if the knowledge was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire for centuries.

There was a flowering of science in Islamic countries. Arabs and Moors researched in various fields and provided great achievements in mathematics, astronomy and time measurement. Magnificent water clocks, which were equipped with machines are complicated figure, known in the Arab world.

An impressive example is the al-Elefantenuhr Dschazarī, another the water meter with machines that Charlemagne was given in 807 by Caliph Al-Rasheed Haaroon given. In addition to the water meter was also the astrolabe, originally a Greek instrument for the determination of star positions and time have changed. The astrolabes found their way back to Europe and slowly, especially in monasteries of the scientific basis for an independent production. In many medieval monumental clocks such astrolabes can be found.