Obtaining Quality in Marginal Places: The Clocks and Quadrants of the Clementinum Observatory in Prague in the 18th Century (2021)
The large number of observatories founded in the 18th century is a clear indication of the upsurge in popularity that astronomy experienced during this period. However, many of these new observatories were small and located far from the international centres for astronomy. Though their occupants often enjoyed a high local reputation, they were rarely known internationally and their networks were similarly limited. Where then did these astronomers buy their instruments? Which channels did they use? What quality of material could they obtain? The paper explores these issues using the Jesuit Clementinum observatory in Prague as an example. The study focuses on the quadrants and clocks acquired around the middle of the 18th century. It traces the astronomer’s sources of information as well as the process of evaluation, and describes the difficulties involved in the transmission of technical knowledge, which could not be gained by reported sources alone, such as letters and books, but needed to be based on personal experience. In this context, astronomers tended to turn to local instrument-makers, as personal contacts, rather than the fame of an instrument maker, usually determined the choice of an instrument. The quality of instruments obtained in this way is checked by using the registers of the Clementinum clocks. The analysis of these same sources also serves to present the first results of an ongoing research project on the degree of precision attained by 18th-century clocks used for astronomical purposes.
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