Hands Of Time By Rebecca Struthers

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20230508

A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail.

I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself.

Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways.

In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality.

Episode one takes us back to some of the earliest civilisations and our ancestors' inventions for telling the time.

Written by Rebecca Struthers

Read by Phoebe Pryce

Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.

20230509

A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail.

Written by Rebecca Struthers

Read by Phoebe Pryce

The author found her way to watchmaking having started out studying to be a silversmith.

Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.

20230510

A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail.

A correction from the publisher and author: The date given in the extract for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots is incorrect, she was in fact executed on 8 February 1587.

Written by Rebecca Struthers

Abridged by Jill Waters

Read by Phoebe Pryce

A 16th-century skull watch prompts speculation on its possibly royal owner.

Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.

20230511

A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail.

Written by Rebecca Struthers

Read by Phoebe Pryce

Abraham-Louis Breguet was one of the most celebrated and ingenious watchmakers in history.

Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.

20230512

A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail.

A correction from the publisher and author: The date given in the extract for the moon landing is incorrect, it actually took place in 1969.

Written by Rebecca Struthers

Read by Phoebe Pryce

The 20th century saw personal timepieces move from the pocket to the wrist.

Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20230508	A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail. I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself. Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways. In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality. Episode one takes us back to some of the earliest civilisations and our ancestors' inventions for telling the time. Written by Rebecca Struthers Read by Phoebe Pryce Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.
02	20230509	A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail. I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself. Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways. In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality. Written by Rebecca Struthers Read by Phoebe Pryce The author found her way to watchmaking having started out studying to be a silversmith. Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.
03	20230510	A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail. I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself. Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways. In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality. A correction from the publisher and author: The date given in the extract for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots is incorrect, she was in fact executed on 8 February 1587. Written by Rebecca Struthers Abridged by Jill Waters Read by Phoebe Pryce A 16th-century skull watch prompts speculation on its possibly royal owner. Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.
04	20230511	A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail. I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself. Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways. In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality. Written by Rebecca Struthers Read by Phoebe Pryce Abraham-Louis Breguet was one of the most celebrated and ingenious watchmakers in history. Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.
05	20230512	A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail. I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself. Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways. In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality. A correction from the publisher and author: The date given in the extract for the moon landing is incorrect, it actually took place in 1969. Written by Rebecca Struthers Read by Phoebe Pryce The 20th century saw personal timepieces move from the pocket to the wrist. Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers' unique exploration of the history and art of timekeeping.