Pendulum clock by Bernard Vander Cloesen, 1690
Bernard Vander Cloesen, Den Haag
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As Gemma Frisius had already concluded, determining longitude required nothing more than an accurate clock. Christiaan Huygens had just invented such a clock with his Hague pendulum clocks fitted with ‘cheeks’. Making them seaworthy proved difficult, however, due to issues such as gimbal suspension. Clocks by Severijn Oosterwijck and Vander Cloesen were tested at sea.
An early Den Hague clock made on a design of Christiaan Huygens during his live.
Brass dial plate, covered with ( later) purple velvet, and turning on hinges. Brass skeleton signuature: B. Vander Cloesen Haghe.
Ebony case 40.3 cm high. Striking the hours and once for for the half hours; going for one week.
In his attempt to make a good running Seaclock, to solve the Longitude-problem, Vander Cloesen made around 1694 the last clocks for these seatrials by Christiaan Huygens.
It includes the typical pendulum with the two cycloïd plates ( = wangen) on which Huygens took his patent.