Mechanical Clock

Medieval clock mechanism-Collin Gribbons

This video, shows how a mechanical clock mechanism worked in the Middle Ages. This exhibit can be seen in the Steno Museum in Arhus, Denmark.

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How it Works/Was Used

The concept of clock hands was yet undiscovered and instead had the ring of a bell to state when the change of an hour was. When the said bell would ring, it would ring the amount of times the hour was. These clocks had mechanisms inside of them with many pulleys that would then pull the bell that rang at the change of the hour.

This is a prime example of the type clock medieval monks used to detect astronomical events.

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Modern Day/How it has developed over the years

The mechanical clock first became truly mainstream in the 1870's. They were sold as $1.50, which is about $36 in 2024, this was considered a price only the rich could afford. Although, in modern days, the mechanical clock is owned and used by most average citizens. There are also many mechanical clocks to now choose from when purchasing one. They can be found at different price ranges that can be suitable for everyone. It still, to this day, stays mainstream. Mechanical clocks now, instead of having complex mechanisms, have simple gears and actually have hands.

Brief History on the Mechanical Clock

The mechanical clock was estimated to be created in the late 1200's to the 1300's by Jacob Di Dondi and his son in the land between Northern Italy and Southern Germany. The first form of a mechanical clock was a tower clock, the type of clock grandfather clocks take their designs after, that were huge in size. It was first created originally to help calculate models of the solar system along with astronomy and mathematics, but later became the main way of timekeeping. Monks used mechanical clocks a lot, their libraries being filled with as much information on the mechanical clock as astronomy and mathematics. Since then it has become more and more popular and is used by average citizens just as much as scientists.

These are the blueprints for the Turret Clock, which was made in Paris, in 1379 by Henri de Wyck.

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How it Contributed to Science

The mechanical clock was occasionally used by medieval monks to help calculate lunar eclipses. The monks had plenty of books on mathematics and astronomy, based on those books, the only other thing they needed was a way to use time to better help carry out their astronomy experiments.

Grandfather clocks are the best example of modern day mechanical clocks. They had hands and less complicated mechanisms, yet still had the look of medieval tower clocks.

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For More Information, Check These Sites

Medieval Chronicles-This website has a great selection of information on not only the history, but also the evolution of it to modern day.

Getty-This website provides an hour long 'event' video explaining how the mechanical clock works as well as the history of it.

Seiko Museum-This website is a great online museum with a floor dedicated to plenty of information on the mechanical clock.

NMAH-This website is another online museum with a sub-website for much information on mechanical clocks from the 1700's to modern today.

UH-This website from the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering has a short podcast-like audio with a paragraph to keep along with specified on how medieval mechanical clocks and their mechanics work and how the engineers themselves evolved the mechanical clock.

Click on image or image number for source

Willow F

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