Galileo's observations of the nature of the pendulum arguably changed the course of European history.
While there is no known record of Galileo constructing a mechanism, there is a drawing that purports to show his design. This drawing, shown in the first thumbnail below, is the subject of scholarly dispute as to whether it is the work Galileo or one of his students.
Whatever the authorship, Mike Edkins published his Meccano interpretation of the mechanism in Meccanomans' Newsmag No 99, July 2004, pp 2 - 14. Since its construction this mechanism has proved itself a good demonstration model, drawing much interested and favourable comment.
One of its noteworthy features is the winding barrel constructed of standard Meccano parts and employing a main spring extracted from a No 1 Clockwork motor.
