He made pivots of brass, which moved more conveniently in sockets of wood with the use of oil.

He also caused the teeth of his wheels to run against cylindrical rollers of wood, fixed by brass pins, at a proper distance from the axis of the pinions; and thus to a considerable extent removed the inconveniences of friction.
In the meantime Harrison eagerly improved every incident from which he might derive further information.

There was a clergyman who came every Sunday to the village to officiate in the neighbourhood; and having heard of the sedulous application of the young carpenter, he lent him a manuscript copy of Professor Saunderson's discourses.

That blind professor had prepared several lectures on natural philosophy for the use of his students, though they were not intended for publication.
Young Harrison now proceeded to copy them out, together with the diagrams.

Sometimes, indeed, he spent the greater part of the night in writing or drawing.
As part of his business, he undertook to survey land, and to repair clocks and watches, besides carrying on his trade of a carpenter.