" 'Navy und Taschenchronometer' by Hans von Bertele is the book of reference on the chronometry of the Navy and one of the most precious in the library of my father. I started to explore the pages of this incredible book when I was only seven years old. I was fascinated by these strange machines. My father entertained me with stories on the making of these tools for navigation. Much more than machines to tell the time, marine chronometers were instruments essential to sea voyages and exploring the planet. The marine chronometers were incredibly precise for their time as well they had to be because the lives of men depended on them. In the 18th century the French Navy commissioned a contest rewarding the best chronometer and watchmaker and they are are present in this book. I find the workings of marine chronometers always captivating." - Felix Baumgartner
Hans von Bertele
Thomas Tompion
Regulator clock by Louis Leroy
Ferdinand Berthoud