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February 9, 2011

Jefferson-era orrery, reconstructed

James Ferguson, 1710-1776, was a sort of “Bill Nye the Science Guy” of the middle to late 1700s. A fellow of the Royal Society, he had done important work in observing and understanding the moon’s orbit, but his true calling turned out to be explaining science to the general public. Some of his works still make good reading today. He strove for simple, elegant solutions and didn’t waste words. Perhaps he put it best in “Select Mechanical Exercises”:  “The simpler that any machine is, the better it will be allowed to be, by every man of science.”more »

Posted in: Monticello, the House, Thomas Jefferson Comments (11)
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says

Hi Joel, Looks like Kristie has you covered. To get a look at the kind of print the perspective glass or optique used, you can Google: "optique prints" and quickly come up with a bunch of images. You might even print out one or two if you can and have a look at them through your...more »

Charles Morrill – Guide, Monticello Staff
March 7, 2011, 7:17 pm on Jefferson-era orrery, reconstructed
says

Interesting how-high tech Mulberry Row became in terms of textile technology. As I understand it, Jefferson had a flying shuttle loom sort of like this one on you tube: http://www....more »

Charles Morrill – Guide, Monticello Staff
March 4, 2011, 5:07 pm on Bringing Back Mulberry Row
says

Thanks so much everyone. Now back to the camera obscura project... Charlesmore »

Charles Morrill – Guide, Monticello Staff
February 11, 2011, 11:34 pm on Jefferson-era orrery, reconstructed
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