,
offered by the Board of Longitude, A.D. 1767.
"This clock strikes the hour, indicates the day of the month, and
with one exception (the escapement) the wheels are entirely made
of wood."
This, however, was only a beginning. Harrison proceeded to make
better clocks; and then he found it necessary to introduce metal,
which was more lasting. He made pivots of brass, which moved
more conveniently in sockets of wood with the use of oil. He
also caused the teeth of his wheels to run against cylindrical
rollers of wood, fixed by brass pins, at a proper distance from
the axis of the pinions; and thus to a considerable extent
removed the inconveniences of friction.
In the meantime Harrison eagerly improved every incident from
which he might derive further information. There was a clergyman
who came every Sunday to the village to officiate in the
neighbourhood; and having heard of the sedulous application of
the young carpenter, he lent him a manuscript copy of Professor
Saunderson's discourses. That blind professor had prepared
several lectures on natural philosophy for the use of his
students, though they were not intended for publication. Young
Harrison now proceeded to copy them out, together with the
diagrams. Sometimes, indeed, he spent the greater part of the
night in writing or drawing.
As part of his business, he undertook to survey land, and to
repair clocks and watches, besides carrying on his trade of a
carpenter.
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