402 Clocks, Watches, and Life in Early America

Do you know what time it is? In early America, this question wasn’t as simple to answer as it is today. Urban dwellers in cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston often wondered about the time—but few owned their own watches or clocks. So, how did they keep track of the hours? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of early American timekeeping. Bob Frishman, a horologist—a specialist in clocks and watches—and a scholar of horology, joins us to explore how timepieces and their makers shaped community life and craftsmanship in the 18th century. Along the way, we’ll uncover the remarkable story of Edward Duffield, a Philadelphia clockmaker who wasn’t just a master craftsman but also a close friend and neighbor of Benjamin Franklin. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/402 Complementary Episodes 🎧 Episode 149: Benjamin Franklin in London 🎧 Episode 175: The Revolution in Ben Franklin’s House 🎧 Episode 207: Young Benjamin Franklin 🎧 Episode 244: Shoe Stories from Early America 🎧 Episode 292: Craft in Early America 🎧 Episode 301: From Inoculation to Vaccination, Pt 1 🎧 Episode 302: From Inoculation to Vaccination, Pt 2 🎧 Episode 332: Occupied Philadelphia   REQUEST A TOPIC 📨  Topic Request Form  📫  [e-mail]  WHEN YOU'RE READY  🗞️ BFW History Behind the Headlines Newsletter  👩‍💻  Join the BFW Listener Community  LISTEN 🎧 🍎  Apple Podcasts   💚  Spotify   🎶  Amazon Music   🛜 Pandora   CONNECT 🦋  Liz on Bluesky  👩‍💻  Liz on LinkedIn  🛜  Liz’s Website  SAY THANKS 💜  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts  💚  Leave a rating on Spotify  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices