02314cam a22003133u 4500 30001 UtSlPG 20260610133702.0 m cr n 260607r2009||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 Q TS Price, Derek J. de Solla (Derek John de Solla), 1922-1983 On the Origin of Clockwork, Perpetual Motion Devices, and the Compass Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2009 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2009-09-16 Produced by Chris Curnow, Turgut Dincer, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. "On the Origin of Clockwork, Perpetual Motion Devices, and the Compass" by Derek J. de Solla Price is a scientific publication written in the mid-20th century. This work delves into the historical development and origin of various mechanical devices, including clocks and compasses, highlighting their evolution over two millennia across different cultures. Price aims to clarify misconceptions and establish a more cohesive understanding of how these technological advancements arose and influenced each other. At the start of the work, the author introduces the complexity of tracing the origins of mechanical clocks and the magnetic compass, revealing how common misunderstandings have perpetuated inaccuracies in their histories. He argues against the traditional view that simpler timekeeping devices like sundials directly led to the mechanical clock, proposing instead that they evolved from sophisticated astronomical models developed in ancient cultures. The opening sets the stage for a comprehensive examination of the technological progression from early gearing in different civilizations to the intricate mechanics of clocks and the interplay with concepts like perpetual motion and magnetism. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Clocks and watches Horology https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30001 70849 70849