Interesting Things About Wall Clocks

Modern wall pendulum clock by AMS made of glass

Under wall clocks, the collective term for all clocks hanging on the wall, usually with a weight-driven movement, is meant. This also includes, by construction, mantel clocks standing on wall consoles as well as clocks mounted on a wall board in their many variants. Wall clocks can be divided into subgroups, which we have classified at Uhren4you.de into so-called categories. These include, for example, office clocks, pure pendulum clocks, kitchen clocks, radio-controlled wall clocks, outdoor clocks, garden clocks, industrial clocks, station clocks, bathroom clocks .... etc.

As you can see, new areas of use have emerged over time for wall clocks, depending on function and features, making this classification possible.

A clock with a striking mechanism that is automatically triggered at any freely selectable and adjustable time is, incidentally, called an alarm clock. The alarm mechanism is the oldest additional clockwork to the going train of the mechanical gear clock; it is already documented for around 1340. Even older are probably pure alarm mechanisms without time display, which likely first appeared in monasteries, where it was necessary to announce the many regular prayer hours throughout the day in good time. As an additional clockwork to the going train, the alarm mechanism was used later and appeared in many clock types, from the wall clock to the pocket watch. The pure alarm clock without any other function is, together with the modern industrial alarm clock, a modern development that recalls the original.

Wall clocks are also often colloquially described in general as pendulum clocks. Pendulum clocks are a special type of wall clock. The wall clock as a pendulum clock is the general term for a mechanical gear clock with a pendulum as the timing regulator. Since the pendulum only works while hanging in a vertical position, it is not suitable for portable clocks because they are frequently moved into different positions. Therefore, only stationary clocks are equipped with pendulums, from the table clock or wall clock to the large floor clock. Among the first major clockmakers to produce pendulum wall clocks of the highest quality and drive their development forward are the Englishmen Joseph Knibb, Thomas Tompion and Daniel Quare.