Selling the True Time: Nineteenth Century Timekeeping in America

By Ian Bartky

This first comprehensive, scholarly history of timekeeping in America studies the transition from local to national timekeeping, a process that led to Standard Time-the worldwide system of timekeeping by which we all live. The book describes the contributions of the railroad industry, university astronomers, clockmakers, and civil and electrical engineers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804738742
• ISBN13: 9780804738743
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Stanford University Press
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.3" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

Revealing and involving in its depth and detail

While it may be hard to easily categorize this title, it should become a mainstay of college-level collections of all sizes and types. Selling the True Time studies the transition from local to national timekeeping and a world-wide system of keeping time in the late 1800s. Until the railroads become involved, American lacked any uniform system to coordinate times: this charts the early involvement of the railroads in a process which transformed the world. Revealing and involving in its depth and detail, this is highly recommended.