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.

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1. The Advantages Of Antique Mantel Clocks
2. What You Need To Know About Atomic Travel Alarm Clocks
3. Antique Grandfather Clocks: Why Bother?

Easier To Find

Antique mantel clocks are a lot easier to find and find in decent condition because a lot more of them were made than antique grandfather clocks or wall clocks.  Before the days of radio, television and iPods, the fireplace was the big magnet that attracted the family or guests.  The mantelpiece then had the most cherished of mementos because you were going to look at them for a long time.

Clocks often graced mantelpieces, which is why they became known as antique mantel clocks, even though you can put them on a lot of other places other than a mantelpiece.  There was a lot more of a demand for these kinds of more easily affordable clocks than there was for other kinds, even cuckoo clocks.  This means your chances of finding antique mantel clocks are pretty good.

Easier To Store

Since they are a lot smaller, antique mantel clocks are easier to store and display than grandfather clocks or wall clocks.  You can only have so much wall space to fir clocks on and only so much room in your house or shop to stick a huge, cumbersome antique grandfather clock.  And you can find a wide variety of antique mantel clocks, while grandfather clocks tend to all look somewhat alike.

Easier To Sell

Although they’re really impressive, no one outside of the super rich or the antiques dealer wants to buy an antique grandfather clock.  You will never be able to sell it and recoup any investment or repairs you put into it.  And repairs for any antique clock can cost hundreds – if you’re lucky.  It’s far more realistic to buy and sell antique mantel clocks, as they are not astronomically priced and can be put on most fat surfaces instead of just the floor.

Easier On the Ears

Antique mantel clocks usually don’t make as much noise as wall clocks or grandfather clocks.  Although a ticking antique mantel clock is far more valuable than a broken one, the ticking can drive you up the wall.

Related posts:

1. Antique Grandfather Clocks: Why Bother?
2. A Look At Three Antique Alarm Clocks
3. What Makes An Antique Clock An Antique