Friedrich Adolph Nobert

He was known as Fritz, and being the eldest son, he was expected to receive a technical education and continue as a clockmaker.

He found his schooling insufficient for the clockmaking work and tried to study arithmetic, geometry and trigonometry on his own.

In 1829 he measure several star positions using a 2 foot quadrant and was able to tell that the accuracy of his chronometer was close to those made by Breguet in Paris and Kessels in Altona.

Nobert maintained a diary of his studies and it included lessons in astronomy and the circle-dividing engine.

These had a micrometer stage holding the grating measurement slide and a mechanism for slow and controlled movement.