Do you know what time it is? In early America, this question wasn’t as simple to answer as it is today.
Urban dwellers in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston often wondered about the time — but few owned their own watches or clocks. So, how did they keep track of the hours?
In this episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of early American timekeeping. Bob Frishman, a horologist — a specialist in clocks and watches — and a scholar of horology, joins us to explore how timepieces and their makers shaped community life and craftsmanship in the 18th century.
Along the way, we’ll uncover the remarkable story of Edward Duffield, a Philadelphia clock-maker who wasn’t just a master craftsman but also a close friend and neighbor of Benjamin Franklin.
Frishman has a new book about Duffield,
You can listen to the episode here.
Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast. It’s for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our world.
For a full list of New York Almanack podcasts announcements click HERE.
Illustration from the collections of the American Philosophical Society (photo by John Wynn).
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