Seiko

KIH
[Purist]
12044

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Part 1 - Evolution of the "Timepieces"

Part 1 - Evolution of the "Timepieces"

1st Floor mainly focuses on the evolution of the timepieces.

(1) The Start of Time Measurement




Equatorial Sundial made in Qing Dynasty, China
Chomon points the Polaris, and it casts the shadow on the dial parallel to the equator.  Hour markers from autumn to spring equinox are at the back side of the dial.  Interesting.




Vertical sundial (for Southern Wall Type) - UK 1680.
These vertical sundial must be placed on either Northern or Southern wall, otherwise it won't make much sense




The Korean Sun Dial on the right and the portable one on the left.
The marker is inside the "bowl".



Water Clock, used in Egypt (ca. 1400 BC).
As the water inside decreases the water pressure decreases as well, and this shape accommodates such variable.




Incense Clock (Edo Period, Japan)
Measure the time by the length of the incense burned to ashes.  The incense is shaped and placed with the "shaper" below.  Some lasted more than 36 hours.




In 671, The Emperor Tenji (Japan) made the Water Clock and started telling the public of the time.




The "Stick Incense" Clock (Edo Period, Japan).
The stick incense is still used today, mostly for temples or tombs.  But this clock appears to have been used at the "bar" (you know what I mean...) and you pay the girls according to how many sticks had been burned....



The Giant Water-Powered celestial observatory clock tower, built in the Northern Sung Dynasty (ca. 1088).
Only after 15 years, all of these were destroyed by war....




... and one was rebuilt in Suwa, Japan (where Seiko Epson or former Suwa Seikosha has big presence) based on the documents left in China.  Now I understand that some were later rebuilt in China as well.
This is the miniature model of them.




The Hour Glass - so?
This is the replica of what Admiral Nelson had on board.  Why did he need the hour glass?  For navigating?  No.  The "look-out" guys have to be really focused on finding whatever may cause damage to the ship, e.g. a reef, but can't keep concentration that long.  So, the look-out guys changes shift each some hours - the hour glass was used for timing such shift changes.




There are various theory of when the hour glass was invented.  But it was 15th century when the hour glass first appeared on the painting.




The Hour Lamp - measure the time by how much oil were burned.  Used until 19th century or so.





(2) The Birth and Development of Mechanical Timepieces




Iron movement Tower Clock
weight-driven, verge escapement and a foliot balance - UK ca. 16th century.




Mr. Mukoyama (our guide) kindly had this mechanism work.




Tower Clock (Prototype of the Westminster Clock, Big Ben)
weight-driven, double three legged gravity escapement - UK




The Big Ben (The Westminster Clock) was set at The Houses of Parliament in London (1859)




And the mechanism got smaller and smaller...



SEIKO's 8-days wall clock (late 19th century).




Various pocket watches from around the world.








(3) The Advent of Quartz Watches and Clocks



From the pursuit for accuracy with the mechanical watches in 1950 to...






The tiny lady's quartz watches in 1980....



The photo of the quartz clock (gigantic!) for broadcast stations in 1958....




says "SEIKOSHA"



Just 11 years later in 1969, SEIKO already launched its first Quartz wrist watch ASTRON 35SQ.




(4) SEIKO's contribution and innovation for the sports events - did you know....?

Starting Block equipped with the "Flying" sensor - Senses the pressure on the block, measures the change of the pressure for 0.5 sec before the Start.



Long list of the sports events including Olympics in which SEIKO was chosen as the official timer.



Video camera captures the moment of the goal and decided the place and the time.  Moving the cursor on the runner gives the time of the runner.  Not only highly accurate, but also quick result (no need to develop or enhance the film).




What do you think this is?



This is the "touch plate" for swimming competition.  Touching the plate, sensor recognizes it, and the time is recorded.



Wow, I didn't know anything about most of these high-tech in the sports events....


Please read on to the Part 2 - SEIKO history and Wa-Dokei (Historical Japanese Clock) Collections

Site Info.