Time is a rite of passage for each and every one of us. For some, it is a gentle entry into the world, a steady journey through the centuries, and a gracious exit when the Passage of Time comes.
Others describe their arrival as a smash, bang, wallop, followed by leaps, somersaults, base leaping from pillar to post, and a final huge leap into the unknown.
For some, reading these lines may seem like a break into language, a compendium of verses and scripture, and possibly counsel on embracing life’s blessings and trials.
That is far from the case.
For all humans, no matter what route or road they pick, marking, charting, and maintaining Passage of Time keeps us steadfast. It keeps us on track and, more importantly, on time.
We can recall important dates such as a loved one’s birthday or a tragic date of remembering. We can rejoice at a graduation or when the firstborn passes their driving test.
There are anniversary dates for individuals who are happily married and anniversary dates for those who are blissfully divorced.
Appointments at the dentist, the hospital, and the optician. When your pet is due for a vaccination, or when the family needs to catch that critical trip to their well-deserved summer vacation.
For those who despise following a schedule and others who run their lives with military precision and clockwork, we simply cannot do without thePassage of Time piece.
So, which timepiece is your favourite?
Mantelpiece clocks, wall clocks, grandfather clocks, pendulum clocks, digital, desk clocks, alarm clocks, wrist watches, and pocket watches are all examples of timepieces.
There are hundreds of different sorts, mechanisms, designer brands, makers, and users from all over the world. All tracking dates and passage of Time are recorded.
Even world-famous clocks, such as London’s Big Ben, which has been recording Passage of Time since 1859 and has become an iconic emblem of the United Kingdom, are simple timepieces.
Here are five more world-famous clocks:
1. City Hall of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Philadelphia City Hall is the world’s largest free standing masonry edifice, made of brick, white marble, and limestone. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and the American Society of Civil Engineers named it a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2006.
The tower has a clock face on each side that is 26 feet (7.9 meters) in diameter, which is larger than Big Ben, which is 23 feet (7.9 meters). (7 m).
Warren Johnson designed it, and it was completed in 1898.
Hotel Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has the world’s largest clock face and the world’s third and fifth tallest freestanding structures.
The clock tower also houses the Clock Tower Museum, which is an astronomical display on the top four levels of the tower.
There is a science centre in the spire base and on the glass-covered floors known as The Jewel that is used to sight the moon at the beginnings of the Islamic months and to operate an atomic clock that controls the tower clocks.
The clocks are 450 meters (1,480 feet) above the ground and face each side of the main hotel tower, making them the world’s most highest architectural Passage of Time.
3. The Astronomical Clock in Prague
The Prague Astronomical Clock is a medieval astronomical clock that is linked to Prague’s old town hall.
The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the world’s third oldest running astronomical clock.
According to local mythology, if the clock was ignored and its proper operation was jeopardized, the city would suffer. If this happened, a ghost attached to the clock was intended to nod its head in approval.
The clock also features images of the sun and moon, Catholic Saints, and a skeleton representing death. A true work of art for its day.
4. Rathaus-Glockenspiel
In Munich, there is a Rathaus-Glockenspiel. This clock tolls and tells two stories from the 16th century, and it is a must-see for all travellers. It is made up of 43 bells and 32 life-size figurines. The top part of the Glockenspiel tells the narrative of local Duke Wilhelm V’s marriage to Renata of Lorraine. In honouring of the newlyweds, there is a joust with life-sized Bavarian knights on horseback, which is followed by the bottom half and second narrative, The Coopers Passage of Time.
In 1517, Munich was plagued, and the Coopers were believed to have danced around the streets to “bring fresh vitality to fearful dispositions.” Their dance came to represent endurance and loyalty in the face of adversity.
A very small golden rooster at the top of the Glockenspiel chirps quietly three Passage of Time at the end of the show, signalling the end of the spectacle.
5. The Zytglogge Tower
Zytglogge Tower in Bern, Switzerland. Despite numerous redecorations and repairs over its 800-year history, the Zytglogge remains one of Bern’s most recognizable landmarks and the city’s oldest monument, as well as a prominent tourist destination with its 15th-century astronomical clock.
It is a national heritage site and part of Bern’s Old City, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Clock-making advanced dramatically in the 17th century, as evidenced by the specimens provided above. Around 1657, the Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens developed the first pendulum-driven clock based on Galileo’s research.
By far the most precise, amazing, and analytical clock the world had ever seen! But, more importantly, it transformed an entire industry overnight!
Railroads were crisscrossing the United States and the United Kingdom by the time the Industrial Revolution was in full force in the nineteenth century. Railroad workers, in particular, relied on timepieces to keep Passage of Time , which was a key aspect of their job that, when done correctly, ensured that no accidents, collisions, or derailments occurred.
Unfortunately, the watchmaking business suffered a setback in the 1960s, when the electronic watch age arrived, quickly followed by the quartz watch a decade later.
Consumers began to ditch their old mechanical timepieces in favour of modern technology. The great majority of quartz watches became a throwaway commodity as the quartz watch matured and the cost of creating these watch movements fell dramatically.
It was frequently asked whether it was worthwhile to service an old watch or whether it was just more cost-effective, cheaper, and easier to acquire a new quartz watch!
So, where do we stand today?
Clocks, particularly wall clocks, are considered works of beauty as well as useful devices! A decorative masterpiece to display a person’s interior design.
No longer just a Passage of Time, but a visionary and an inspire. The designs are modern, one-of-a-kind, and most importantly, statement pieces.
Here’s an excellent illustration of what you may hang in your modest home.
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