A former student named Andrew writes to fill us in on some interesting details related to our post featuring Guillaume Nery (See: Underwater Dive):
I work in jewelry so I had to say something about your post. If you check out Guillaume's wet suit you will notice BALL as a sponser. They are a brand of watches with a great American heritage that we carry here at my store. Webster Ball started the company back in 1892 by request of the Lake Shore Railroad. Essentially they made accurate pocket watches and then monitored the pocket watches of all persons working on the railroad system to make sure they had no variation more than 30 seconds. By the end of the railroad era, Ball's system was being used by nearly 75% of the railroads in America. Ball State and the term "on the ball" both come from Ball watch. It's a pretty neat story. Webster Ball was even fundamental in the birth of Hamilton Watch Co. that was here in Lancaster for so many years.
Thanks to Ball I've know of Nery for quite a while. He is a four time world record holder in the sport of Free Diving in which you see how deep you can go on just one breath. I believe he holds the record at nearly 113 meters with no assistance other than a large "monofin."
Ball watch has some interesting info about the company on their website ballwatchusa.com I will tell you... they aren't cheap watches... from $1000-$5000. Back in the day they were the "expensive" pocket watch at $60-$80 dollars instead of the $20-$30 that Elgin and Bulova charged. They also use this very interesting technology that you as a former science teacher might find interesting. They capture Tritium gas in tiny tubes to use as a glowing agent. The gas makes the little tube glow for 25 years! It's pretty cool, I have one of the watches myself and love it... a little piece of American history on my wrist!
Good stuff. Thanks, Andrew.
RLC
