The World's Encyclopedia of Wonders and Curiosities

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Uriosities Respecting the Arts

book "De Horol. Oscillat." was published; wherein he has not one word of this, though he has of several other contrivances in the same way. One of these the Lord Brouncker sent for out of France, where M. Huygens had got a patent for them. This watch agreed with Dr. Hooke's, in the application of the spring to the balance; only M. Huygens' had a long spiral spring, and the pulses and beats were much slower. The balance, instead of turning quite round, as Dr Hooke's, turns several rounds every vibration.

Mr. Derham suggests, that he has reason to think M. Huygens' fancy was first set to work by some intelligence he might have of Dr. Hooke's invention from Mr. Oldensworth, or some other of his correspondents in England; and this, notwithstanding Mr. Oldensworth's attempt to vindicate himself in the Philosophical Transactions, appears to be the truth. Huygens invented divers other kinds of watches, some ot them without any string or chain at all; which he called particularly, pendulum watches.

← Invention of WatchesChap. Lxxiii →