Decimal time: 100 seconds/min, 100 min/hr

[grsnovi]

I was reading today about the history of measurement and was surprised to find out there was a period during the move towards the metric system that a 10 hour "day" was proposed (and implemented) along with a 10 day week and 10 month year. Those crazy French  Has anyone here worked on such a clock or watch? A second would be equal to 0.86 of our current seconds.

 

[KarlvonKoln]

Well, I could see that system of measurement would not be easily divisible into quarters.  And the math for gear ratios would be rather different and unfamiliar.  Hours would seem longer to people used to a more-divided day.  I could see how all the pitfalls involved in changing over would make it very unpopular.  Interesting bit of history.  I never knew there was any thought given to metric time-keeping.

[grsnovi]

I never did either but it happened!

It lasted long enough that clocks and watches were made.

 

[RickTock]

That's a new one to me -- crazy!

Here's another oddity. A watchmaker that did some work for me a while back told me about sidereal time. I think he had a pocket watch that kept sidereal time. Don't hear much about that either (unless you hang around astronomers).