Most Important Clock in America: The David Rittenhouse Astronomical Musical Clock at Drexel University: Transactions, American Philosophical Society ... of the American Philosophical Society)

The David Rittenhouse Astronomical Musical Clock, saved by former Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis, is considered to be the Most Important Clock in America. David Rittenhouse, the 18th century s most important scientist, constructed the clock in 1773. This national historic treasure and engineering masterpiece tells the time, date, positions of the planets, the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac and plays melodies.

There were doubts that the United States could achieve the kind of technical engineering and level that was present in Europe at the time, Baruch Blumberg, President of the American Philosophical Society, told the Philadelphia Inquirer at a book signing in October 2009. I think this was an outstanding example that this could be done here and was done. Recently a million dollar restoration kept the clock s nearly 1,000 original pieces in tact, and the clock is in near-perfect working order.

The book includes a biography of Rittenhouse written by Jacqueline DeGroff, curator of the Drexel Collection, and more than 100 drawings and full-color photographs.