Alarm Clock Lore.

Nov 2
08:29

2016

Brian J White

Brian J White

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The idea of a clock having an alarm is quite a simple one. With a good cam rotating at the 12th and 24th hours, the lever drops down into the cam’s notch.

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That gives was to  gear,Alarm Clock Lore. Articles and then a hammer continuously strikes a bell. This striking of the bell continues until it has exhausted tension on the wound up spring. The first such types of mechanical alarms date back to the 1300s. Germany had iron wall clocks with bell that were probably made in Nuremberg. That would have been near the 1500s. That type of clock was about 19 inches tall with an open framework type of style. There was the need to mount it high enough for it’s driving weights to fall properly. There are still examples of such alarm clocks from the 1500s, and they really are still in existence.

There is a book published by Dawson, Drover and Parkes, named Early English Clocks, and it can be found at the Antique Collectors Club. It clearly displays 1982 documents that make reference to some alarm clocks during that period of time. There is also in existence a clock which dates back to 1620 having an alarm set disc at the very face of the dial. A grandfather clock which dates back to 1690 is still documented also. During the 18th century, many British clock makers made the journey to the United States, and surely the concept of alarm clocks made the trip with them.

Seth Thomas Clock Company did receive a patent in 1876 for a bedside alarm clock. It is possible that this was the first type of it’s kind. Prior to that no such style of bedroom clock was seen, however it is possible that others had the same idea near that same time. Near the end of the 1870s, smaller versions of alarm clocks became more and more popular. That is when major clock making firms started to get involved. A Westclox Moonbeam clock was first marketed in 1949. It was one of the first clocks that had an alarm that flashes a light, and would then create a buzzing sound. Westclox is still very much in business, and at this time it now sells a fantastic reproduction of the very original Moonbeam.

So many incredible clocks have been manufactured during the subsequent years. The old and funny Tugaslugabed that could wake you up by pulling on your toe. That of course required you to have a string attached to your toe of choice. Effective, but no so very comfortable. These days, alarm clocks are multi purpose. They serve as night lights, radio receivers, cd players, you name it. Other devices such as wrist watches, cellular phones, and computers are often used in place of a more traditional alarm clock.

With this website, i will do my best to inform readers of the very best modern alarm clocks available today. Even though we have so many other ways to wake ourselves up in the morning, many of us simply desire a more standard alarm clock feature in our bedrooms.