Portsmouth, England 1829 British sailing ships use Chronometer navigate time it wasn’t working properly. Later they use ball for time.

The first New Year’s Eve Ball dropped from a flagpole  in 1907 to rally attention to the new New York Times building. Made from iron and wood, the Ball was decorated with hundred light bulbs.

Beginnings (1907–1908) The first New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square was held on December 31, 1904; The New York Times’ owner, Adolph  decided to celebrate the opening of the newspaper’s new headquarters, One Times Square, with a New Year’s fireworks show on the roof of the building to welcome 1905.

The current Ball is a whopping and around 11 feet wide.