Press releases
Historian to reveal secrets of time keeping over last 175 years
19 September 2008
Leading technology historian and curator of timekeeping at the Royal Observatory, David Rooney, will explore the history of time distribution at a prestigious Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) event later this year.
Entitled: “Time by Wire: 175 years of the Greenwich Time Service”, David Rooney’s presentation will be the subject of this year’s IET Wheatstone Lecture. The event takes place at the IET in Savoy Place, London on Wednesday 3 December.
The lecture will explore the history of time distribution from Greenwich, revealing little-known stories behind Britain’s famous measurement system — Greenwich Mean Time — in the very building where part of its history was made.
Robin McGill, IET chief executive, said: “Our annual Wheatstone lecture commemorates the life and work of Sir Charles Wheatstone, who made significant contributions to British science and engineering.
“Traditionally, the topic of the talk is based on the science, art or practice of measurement and is aimed at scientists, engineers and all those with a general interest in technology. This year’s topic promises to follow a long line of fascinating subjects and is an event not to be missed.”
David Rooney said: “It's easy these days to find the time - on the radio, the speaking clock, or even our mobile phones. But it wasn't always like this. I've uncovered some pretty remarkable stories about the colourful characters who have kept Britain on time over the last 175 years, and I'll be revealing how the Greenwich time service really worked. It's an honour to be giving the prestigious IET Wheatstone Lecture this year.”
The Royal Observatory has been exporting Greenwich Mean Time since 1833, when a five-foot time ball was installed on the roof of Flamsteed House overlooking London’s docks. Since then, a wide variety of technologies have brought Greenwich time to the outside world: the electric telegraph, broadcast radio, the telephone network.
One of the earliest and most enduring Greenwich time distribution networks relied on one family — the Belvilles — carrying an accurate pocket chronometer around their London subscribers each week. This service began just three years after the time ball was installed — and Ruth Belville only retired in 1940, over a century after her father first started the business.
The event will also be available to watch at www.iet.tv.
For more information on this event, visit www.theiet.org/wheatstone.
Media enquiries to:
Robert Beahan
IET Press Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org
Mary Donovan
IET Head of Communications
T: +44 (0)1438 765587
M: +44 (0)7725 498117
E: mdonovan@theiet.org
Notes to editors:
About David Rooney:
David Rooney is a writer, historian of technology and curator of timekeeping at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, part of the National Maritime Museum. He was co-curator of the Observatory’s Time Galleries (2006), awarded the Dibner Award for Excellence by the Society for the History of Technology. He writes and speaks widely on the history of timekeeping and frequently contributes media interviews on the subject.
- The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a world leading professional organisation working to develop science, engineering and technology
- The IET dates from 1871 and has more than 150,000 members in 127 countries with offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. It provides a global knowledge network to facilitate the exchange of information
- The IET registers more engineers than any other UK institution and approaching half the engineers on the Engineering Council register are IET members. More information, please see www.theiet.org.
- The IET operates IET.tv, a web TV service which covers a wide range of engineering and technology events and content. For more information, visit www.iet.tv.