A Look At Three Antique Alarm Clocks
October 3rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The oldest alarm clock ever is the sun, but antiques dealers and clock historians keep saying that the sun “doesn’t count”. Apparently this is because you can’t put the sun under any kind of value guide. But alarm clocks have existed long before the idea of buying and selling antiques. Here is a look at just three of these very different antique alarm clocks.
The Great Exhibition Of 1851
Charles Darwin, best known for his theory of evolution, was also a keen observer of his times. In 1851, he took his children to Hyde Park to the Crystal Palace, also known as The Great Exhibition. All kinds of new and unusual devices were on display, one of which (had it survived) would be known as the most dangerous antique alarm clock in the world today.
In this antique alarm clock, the sleeper’s was made on springs and levers. When it came time for the sleeper to come out of the Land of Nod, the bed would shoot up, propelling the sleeper into a tub of cold water. Unbelievably, this kind of antique alarm clock never caught on. In fact, it’s usually not listed in historical papers on the Great Exhibition. This antique alarm clock is, however, lovingly detailed in Charles Darwin’s personal diaries.
The Nuremberg Wall Clock
A much more conventional and dry antique wall clock is thought to have been made in the 1400’s in Nuremberg, Germany. It was made of iron and had bronze bells and worked as a smaller version of the huge town clocks all around European cities since the 1100’s. It was a mere nineteen inches tall. Its existence is doubtful, especially after the World Wars Germany went through. We know of this antique wall clock through old writings.
Salisbury Cathedral
The oldest known antique alarm clock still ticking away today can be seen in Salisbury Cathedral in England near Stonehenge, once thought to be a kind of antique alarm clock but now thought to be a place of ancestor worship. Known as “the Medieval Clock”, this antique alarm clock was thought to be made around 1386.
Alarm clocks were rather large in the fourteenth century – usually only a clock tower or a cathedral could hold one. he big advantage was that the whole town could use one. Also, you didn’t have to worry about antique alarm clock thieves. Or, worry about sober thieves, anyway. If anyone tried to steal this antique alarm clock, they wouldn’t be able to get very far without someone pretending not to notice.
Technorati Tags: antique alarm clocks, antique wall clock, nuremberg wall clock
Related Tags: No Tags
Chime Wall Clock
October 1st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
There are many wall clocks that are on the market today. Some of the more traditional and yet unique wall clocks are the cuckoo clocks. On the hour, the cuckoo clock allows the resident cuckoo to come out through the doors and announce the time of the day through the appropriate number of cuckoos. Other wall clocks can include very ornate and elaborate clocks that can nicely adorn the most elegant of living rooms. In addition, a wall clock can be a simple clock in the kitchen that provides the time of day.
Also there are clocks that not only tell the time but announce that time through musical tones. This type of clock is known as a chime wall clock and not only can portray the time on the face or dial of the clock but announce the time through the appropriate number of musical tones or chimes.
If considering a chime wall clock there are a number of considerations that one can take into account. Some of those considerations can include how the chime wall clock is constructed and the chime that actually emits from the chime wall clock.
How The Chime Wall Clock Is Constructed
When considering how the chime wall clock is constructed there are a number of considerations to take into account. Those considerations include the materials used and other features added to the timepiece.
First of all it is important to realize that there is a variety of materials that can be used to construct the chime wall clock. Foremost is the wood that is used. The variety of wood used to construct the chime wall clock can range from American Cherry to Mahogany to Oak. Obviously, the more expensive the wood that is used to construct the clock the greater the cost will be to the buyer.
Also, another construction factor to consider is the workmanship involved in the construction of the chime wall clock. If the clock looks more sculpted or ornate, the cost will certainly be greater because of the additional crafting of the clock.
Other construction items of the chime wall clock can include added features such as a pendulum, a barometer, a glass casing that can be opened, etc.
Considering The Chime
Obviously, if considering the purchase of a chime wall clock, the interested party will have the tones or tune to be played in mind. Some of those tunes can include St. Michael’s, Westminster, or even God Bless America. Generally, these tunes are played on the hour with the chime being sounded the number of times equating to the hour.
Additionally, available on the market, are simulated or actual antique clocks that chime out melodies or notes to signal the time. Generally, these antique clocks are very expensive for they are handcrafted and built to keep time using quality workmanship.
Technorati Tags: chime wall clock, wall clock, wall clocks
Related Tags: No Tags
Atomic Clock Thermometer: Telling A Lot More Than The Time Of Day
October 1st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Most people are aware of the fact that atomic clocks are able to provide the most accurate time and they are able to do so because of measuring time through keeping track of vibrations within certain atoms. A special kind of atomic clock that has recently found many buyers is the atomic clock thermometer that can provide accurate readings about current temperature and even humidity levels, and of course, can also provide the most accurate time as well.
Helps Travelers
One of the reasons that atomic clock thermometers are very popular is that they help travelers know the time, temperature as well as humidity and that in turn means being able to dress according to conditions in the outdoors. There are different types of atomic clock thermometers and among these are those that work without needing any wires to connect the thermometer or hygrometer or even the barometer.
You can use an atomic clock thermometer to measure the temperature within a home or outside the home and such clocks can also display relative humidity and air pressure as well as show pressure trends. Some models of the atomic clock thermometer also have UV sensors that help to display the quality of indoor air and will also provide information about pollen dust as well as other forms of airborne matter.
If you like, you can choose to buy an atomic clock thermometer that can be mounted on a wall or you may want to choose one that stands on its own. Such clocks also have their own menu (interactive) that displays information regarding rainfall in the previous hour and even in the past twenty-four hours, and it can also show history of rainfall during the week gone by as well as for the last month.
It is also possible to buy an atomic clock thermometer that can also provide information about the speed and direction as well as gust of wind and they can also display various symbols signifying various weather conditions including sunny weather, cloudy weather, fair weather and rainy weather.
It is also possible to connect an atomic clock thermometer to a personal computer in order to gather information regarding weather conditions, which can then be analyzed as well as studied to obtain more insights about the weather in your immediate vicinity.
Another option in atomic clocks is the world atomic clock that provides you with the most accurate time no matter in which part of the world you happen to be.
Some advanced atomic clock thermometers are even capable of predicting snowfall or fog or even frost and they even have alarm systems which can be pre-set to different temperatures – both for within the home as well as without it.
Technorati Tags: atom clock, atomic clock thermometer, world atomic clock
Related Tags: No Tags
