Plomp, Prof. Dr. Ir. Reinier
After his study in technical physics at the Technological University Delft, Prof. Dr. Ir. Reinier Plomp was from 1953 to 1989 head of hearing and speech research at TNO. (Organisation of Applied Scientific Research) as well as from 1972 to 1994 professor in experimental audiology at the Free University in Amsterdam. His historical interests were aroused by discovering the role of Christiaan Huygens in the origin of French and English pendulum clocks. After three articles in Antiquarian Horology, he published in 1979 the book :”Spring-driven Dutch Pendulum Clocks, 1657-1710.
Articles by this Author
A Longitude Timekeeper
- By Plomp, Prof. Dr. Ir. Reinier
- Published 15 March 2008
- Clocks, Barometers and instruments
- Unrated
The recent discovery of an extremely interesting clock signed Thuret A Paris reveals that this clockmaker was much more closely involved in the development of a clock to be used for finding longitudes at sea than has generally been assumed. Isaac Thuret was the clockmaker who made for Christiaan Huygens the first watch with a spiral spring regulating the movements of the balance wheel in 1675.
The earliest DUTCH and FRENCH Pendulum clocks, 1657-1662.
- By Plomp, Prof. Dr. Ir. Reinier
- Published 13 March 2008
- Clocks, Barometers and instruments
- Unrated
On 26 December 1657 Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) writes to the French astronomer Ismael Boulliau (1605-1694) that he had made his first pendulum clock "yesterday just a year ago", and that since June he had been showing the construction to everybody interested
This last remark is related to the fact that on 16 June 1657 Salomon Coster (c. 1620-1659) had obtained the exclusive rights ('privilege') for a period of 21 years to make and sell these clocks.
This last remark is related to the fact that on 16 June 1657 Salomon Coster (c. 1620-1659) had obtained the exclusive rights ('privilege') for a period of 21 years to make and sell these clocks.