1862 A Diagram Exhibiting the difference of time between places shown & Washington
By: Johnson & Browning
Date: 1862 (published) New York
Dimensions: 15 x 13.25 inches (38 x 33.5 cm)
This is fascinating diagram showing the time in cities around the world when it's noon in Washington D.C. Air line (by way the crow flies) distance between each city and Washington is also given.
Before the adoption of time zones people used to rely on local solar time, followed by railroad time, which was the practice at the time of this diagram's production. With the improvements in worldwide communication further increased the need for interacting parties to communicate mutually comprehensible time references to one another. The problem of differing local times could be solved across larger areas by synchronizing clocks worldwide, but in many places that adopted time would then differ markedly from the solar time to which people were accustomed.
Eventually in 1863, Charles F. Dowd proposed a system of one-hour standard time zones for American railroads, although he published nothing on the matter at that time and did not consult railroad officials until 1869. In 1870 he proposed four ideal time zones (having north–south borders), the first centered on Washington, D.C., but by 1872 the first was centered on the meridian 75° W of Greenwich, UK.
Condition: This antique diagram is in A condition with some light foxing in some areas and ample margins on all sides.
Inventory #11497
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622