"It is the demonstration that this kind of engineering and development of machinery was possible in the country so early on" that makes this grandfatherlike clock so special for Baruch Blumberg, president of the society. "There were doubts that the United States could achieve the kind of technical engineering and level that was present in Europe at the time. And I think this was an outstanding example that this could be done here - and was done."
With only minor changes to the clock's inner workings throughout the years, this work of art, with more than a thousand pieces, is a great original example of Rittenhouse's mastery of clockwork and the care and delicacy that went into the creation of his clocks. It is one of only three known still-functioning Rittenhouse astronomical clocks.
The Drexel clock, with its miniature operating model of the solar system, called an orrery, and its many technical dials, is considered by some historians to be the most important clock in America.
In the spring, Ron Hoppes, a 1960 Drexel graduate, published a book about the clock, with the American Philosophical Society, called The Most Important Clock in America. While the clock was being conserved by Eric Wilson, Bruce Forman, and Hoppes a few years ago, he had unparalleled access to its inner operations.
"As soon as I heard about [the idea for the book] and talked to Ron, I wanted to bring it to our committee on publications," said Mary McDonald, the Philosophical Society's editor. "They were all very anxious to see it published. It's the type of book the society is proud to publish, because it's very scholarly, and it has a lot of good information for people."
