One-hand clocks with 5 minute increments.

[Chris Radano]

Lately I've seen photos of some 18th century one-handed clocks, showing 5 minute increments between the numerals on the chapter ring. Most of them were French Comtoise clocks, but one was a later 18th century one-hand English lantern clock. Conversely, I've also seen one or two clocks that were 2-handed, that had 4 minute increments engraved between the numerals on the chapter ring. In all instances, I could not discern that the dials were not original.

When I think about it, none of these examples should necessarily be seen as incorrect. Although the quarter 5-minute intervals have been outdated for a long time. Correct me if I'm misguided.

Has anybody seen clocks that have these characteristics? Maybe somebody has photos, or examples they would be able to post.

 

[novicetimekeeper]

The best resolution I have seen is 5 minutes on a single hander. This was achieved with inner and outer divisions on the chapter ring, and presumably a long pointer that went across both. It was just the chapter ring, and I was the underbidder, so sadly I have no pics, but you could see from the design that the only way it would work would be a hand with a long pointer to do both inner and outer registers. It was a mid 18th century clock I think.

 

[DeanT]

Pretty standard to have single handed clocks with minute divisions although often 4 divisions on early German clocks. These clocks often have two dials, the lower one indicating the quarters.

 

[novicetimekeeper]

Those are 15 minute divisions aren't they? I've never seen a single hander with 1 minute resolution on the dial, unless the dial was a large diameter it would be very difficult to read.

 

[DeanT]

Those are 15 minute divisions aren't they? I've never seen a single hander with 1 minute resolution on the dial, unless the dial was a large diameter it would be very difficult to read.

yeah they are quarter hour divisions in keeping with the secondary quarter dial below. Rereading the original question I’m not sure exactly what the question was?

 

[novicetimekeeper]

I thought we were discussing the different resolution of single handers. I was thinking about it and the best I have seen was 3 minutes.

 

[jmclaugh]

I don't recall seeing anything other than 15 minute (quarter hour divisions) on the inside of the chapter ring on a single handed clock.

Just for interest I have seen quarter minute divisions in addition to minutes on the outside of the chapter ring on a two handed clock.

 

[DeanT]

Some different minute markers...with quarters in between

 

[novicetimekeeper]

what's in the window on the first one?

 

[DeanT]

Think its a moon dial. The second one has minutes every third. They all have quarters around the outside even with the minutes.

 

[Chris Radano]

The photos are small, but those clocks are ancient. In the old days, perhaps by the time someone figured out what time it was, a few minutes went by and the had already forgot their first reading

In the Renaissance, if you asked a simple question like, "What time is it?", you would get a couple paragraphs in response.

Must have been even more confusing for those in Northern latitudes, with minimum sunlights in the Winter, and long days of sunlight in the Summer.

I think my original intent was to try to discern the originality of clock dials of one-handed clocks. Maybe some one-handers had more or less than 4 increments engraved between the numerals?

 

[novicetimekeeper]

The photos are small, but those clocks are ancient. In the old days, perhaps by the time someone figured out what time it was, a few minutes went by and the had already forgot their first reading

In the Renaissance, if you asked a simple question like, "What time is it?", you would get a couple paragraphs in response.

Must have been even more confusing for those in Northern latitudes, with minimum sunlights in the Winter, and long days of sunlight in the Summer.

I think my original intent was to try to discern the originality of clock dials of one-handed clocks. Maybe some one-handers had more or less than 4 increments engraved between the numerals?

Yes, some of them did. Mostly I have seen it as a second ring of divisions, I think that makes reading it easier.