The contribution of Maudslay, Sons & Field to the development of Time Balls in Australia
Date
2009
Authors
Kinns, Roger
Abell, Lesley Jean
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, 2009; 79(1):59-90
Statement of Responsibility
Roger Kinns & Lesley Abell
Conference Name
Abstract
Maudslay, Sons & Field supplied the apparatus for the first public time ball, which became operational at Greenwich, England, in 1833 and included a chain hoist for the ball. In Australia, Maudslay's built the time ball apparatus for Sydney, NSW, but with a rack and pinion hoist. The 1877 apparatus for Newcastle, NSW was derived from the Sydney design and built in Australia. The 1875 apparatus for Semaphore, South Australia is deduced to be a development of a design by Charles Todd who was responsible at Greenwich for time ball operation before his departure for Adelaide in 1855 and who had a high regard for Maudslay's. Like that at Greenwich it used a chain hoist, but explicit statements about its designer and manufacturer have not yet been found. It is likely that Semaphore had the first heavy-duty time ball apparatus to be manufactured in Australia and that its design was rooted in Maudslay's experience.
School/Discipline
School of History and Politics : History
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© The Newcomen Society for the Study of the History of Engineering & Technology 2009