41. Time and the Tree

Short Stories
of Science and Invention

A Collection of Radio Talks by
Charles F. Kettering

Weekly, from September 1942 to July 1945, Charles F. Kettering gave five-minute intermission talks about Science and Invention during the radio broadcasts of the General Motors Symphony of the Air.

Kettering invented the first automobile self-starter, and for 31 years directed a research laboratory for General Motors.

These radio talks are a fascinating legacy from the mind of a prolific inventor. The obvious anachronisms now add a historical perspective of the war-time period in which they were written.

These web pages now preserve some of the most popular stories for a new generation to read The text and art come from a General Motors booklet of selected talks. (Reprint, March 1959)

41. Time and the Tree
A Radio Talk by Charles F. Kettering

     At this very moment pilots in many lands are glancing at their watches to see if their airplanes are running on schedule. A locomotive engineer checks his watch as he passes a control tower to see if he is on time. We work, eat, play and sleep by the clock. And now since we can get accurate time by radio, we have a split-second check on our schedules.

     Two hundred years ago very few people could afford clocks and those available had only an hour hand. In America at that time, since wealth was a rarity so was time keeping equipment. Thomas Harland came over from London and started to make clocks in this country just before the Revolution. As his business grew he took on some apprentices, among them was a boy by the name of Eli Terry.

     After the usual seven years training, young Terry, at the age of 21, started his own business. In those days if you wanted a suit of clothes, a pair of shoes or a clock you went to the man who made such things and gave an order. Weeks later you were advised it was ready - no factory made goods were available.

     This business of making one at a time didn't appeal to Terry, so he decided to start a factory. In an old mill at Plymouth, Connecticut he made four wooden clocks in 1803. But customers didn't rush to his factory to buy these because they sold for such a high price - $25.00.