Discover The Diversity Of Some Of The World's Most Famous Clocks

Discover The Diversity Of Some Of The World's Most Famous Clocks


As one of mankind's oldest inventions, the clock has evolved over many centuries to become the precise
timekeeping machine so many people rely on every day. From the sundials and candle clocks used in
ancient times to the digital watches that can go anywhere in the hectic world of today, clocks help people to
track the passage of time. Listed here are some of the world's most famous clocks notable for their
historical significance, architectural value or extreme accuracy.

Big Ben in London is among the most recognized clocks anywhere in the world even though the name
actually refers to its massive bell. Its tower is located at Westminster Palace. The clock was completed in
1858 and has become an iconic symbol of England that is instantly recognized by people everywhere. The
Gothic Revival structure stands approximately 16 stories high and was the final project designed by
Augustus Pugin before he descended into madness. The 334 limestone stairs represent the only way to get
to the top.

The square tower features four clock faces. The pendulum is enclosed in a box underneath the clockroom
and the clockroom mechanism weighs 5 tons. A small stack of pennies kept on top of the pendulum are
used to adjust the clock's time by shifting the center of gravity and effectively changing the pendulum
length.

The Strasbourg astronomical clock at Notre Dame Cathedral in France dates back to 1843 and is the third
clock at the location. It contains what is thought to be the earliest example of a perpetual mechanical
Gregorian calendar. It features a planetary dial and shows the precise position of the Sun and Moon. It also
marks solar and lunar eclipses.

The Strasbourg clock is a popular tourist attraction due to the automata designed to perform on the clock's
four levels. One cherub turns over an hour glass while another hits a gong. Other features include a tableau
representing the four ages of man. The main show happens at half past midday when a life-size cock crows
during a procession of the twelve apostles past a Christ figure.

The Cosmo Clock 21 is found in Japan. The massive Ferris wheel functions as an amusement ride but is also
the largest clock in the world. It was originally built in 1989 for the Yokohama Exposition and was
dismantled and erected on a taller base in 1999. This increased the height to 369 feet. The wheel is
equipped with 60 cars and has a capacity of 480 passengers. Each rotation takes 15 minutes to complete.

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The Grand Central Terminal Clock is the most famous timepiece in New York and it has been used on film to
establish location shots for many movies. The piece rests atop Grand Central Terminal's main information
booth in the concourse and is a popular meeting point for locals and tourists. The booth marks the location
of a hidden stairway accessed by a secret door underneath the booth. A spiral staircase leads to the
information booth on the level below.

The Grand Central timepiece is enclosed in a housing made of brass and features four faces with convex
surfaces on top of a brass pillar. A compass affixed to the top accurately points to true north but goes
unnoticed by most observers or is mistakenly thought to be merely decorative. The piece was constructed
by Seth Thomas Clock Company and completed in 1913.

The water clock found at Da al-Magana in Fes, Morocco is among the oldest anywhere on Earth. The clock is
powered by weights and construction was completed in 1357. The structure contains 13 windows and
platforms with brass bowls. A small cart traveled from side to side behind twelve doors. A rope with a
hanging weight was attached to one end of the cart. The other end had a rope attached to a weight floating
in a water reservoir. The reservoir drained water at a steady pace and every hour one door would open as a
metal ball dropped into a brass bowl.

Jens Olsen's World Clock is on display at City Hall in Copenhagen. This advanced astronomical clock is made
up of more than 14,000 parts and has a dozen movements. Since it is mechanical, it must be wound weekly.
In addition to showing time, the piece marks the positions of various heavenly bodies, displays solar and
lunar eclipses and has a perpetual calendar.

These examples represent just some of the world's most famous clocks. Timepieces of all kinds are found in
societies throughout the world. They have been around since ancient times and even today's modern
computers use them to allow synchronized processing.

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