Seth Thomas Clock 12

The Seth Thomas clocks, acquired by the college in December of 1888, represent the pinnacle of accuracy in timekeeping within their era. The clocks have very heavy cast-iron frames and gold-plated regulators. The polished brass tubes on either side of the clocks house the weights which maintain the rhythm and accuracy of the clock regulators. The college purchased the clocks after receiving the gift of an 8-inch Clark refractor, along with a chronograph, micrometer and a transit telescope. Grinnell offered practical astronomy classes for the first time in the 1888-89 academic year. Located in Goodnow Hall and used in the Goodnow observatory , the clocks were set respectively for solar and sidereal time. This clock is set for solar time.The second image shows the Goodnow Hall clock room in the early 1900's.  The chronometer is on the table to the right.

The clocks, routinely maintained by Kens Clock Repair of Brooklyn, Iowa.. still keep excellent time and are on display in the Kistle Science Library in the Noyce Science Center.

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Technology

Seth Thomas Clock Co.

Kistle Science Library L1

1888