Leonardo Da Vinci is credited with the invention of the pedometer, though there are several other contenders for that accolade. Either way the principle of a pendulum, inside a casing, that swung to the time of a person’s footsteps or stride seems to have been pretty universal since the outset back in the 1500’s. There was often a complicated calculation to do since people have different stride lengths which needed to be considered. Pretty much from the outset, pedometers took the style of a pocket watch and there are some very fine examples around which have become much sought after collector’s items. The one we have here in the collection was not much sought after since we got it on e-bay for a few pounds as an example of the early versions in contrast to the many modern, electronic ones we now see on the market and on people’s wrists. The only markings we can see are HG Depose on the pendulum implying it is French. (Depose = patent) and it appears this version measures distance from movement of the body rather than strides. We are guessing it’s early 20th Century and are happy with our little step back in time!