Anniversary Clock Origin

There has been some question as to the origin of the Anniversary Clock, or as it was originally called, the “400 Day Clock.” It is said to have been invented and patented in 1841 by American clock maker Aaron Crane. But there have been claims that it was actually invented much later in 1879 by a clock maker from Germany named Anton Harder. Supposedly, Harder got the idea for his invention after he saw servants lighting a rotating chandelier’s candles.

Whichever the case, the 400 Day Clock was called as such because that was about how long it would run before it needed to be wound up. Unlike the regular mechanical clocks at the time that required daily winding, this one had a special torsion pendulum that moved so slow that it only had to be wound up once a year. These types of clocks became popular as wedding gifts, as married couples would celebrate their anniversaries by winding them up each year. Because of this, the Bowler & Burdock Company, an Ohio-based clock manufacturer, copyrighted the term “anniversary clock” in 1901, and the name had stuck ever since.

Even in modern times, anniversary clocks are still as popular as ever. Of course, even progress has caught up with these classic tabletop timepieces, as current models are now battery-operated. They are typically built into crystal or glass cases that enable one to view its interior mechanisms, which are usually made from brass. The mechanism has a pendulum which has 3 or 4 brass balls whirling under the clock face. A few of these clocks are topped with brass handles, and often bear an engraving of the designated couple’s wedding date.

The design of the anniversary clock operates in a much similar way as how the balance-wheel and hairspring of a watch works. Being a torsion clock, it has a spring-wound pendulum that can rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise rather than swinging left and right. It has a weighted disk that is hanging by a wire which is actually the torsion spring itself. The torsion spring provides power to the gears of the clock as it twists. Since it uses up a lesser amount of energy, the clock is able to function for around an entire year on just one winding alone.

There are however a few cons to keeping an anniversary clock. Authentic torsion spring clocks tend to be quite fragile, complicated to assemble, and can’t really tell time very accurately. Changes in temperature can also adversely affect the frail workings and springs of the clock. Nonetheless, anniversary clocks are worth having if only for the old-fashioned ambiance that it lends to one’s mantel. Just as loving couples commemorate the day of their marriage, winding it up to jump start another year of marital bliss, it also seems as if they are turning back time to an earlier, simpler and much more romantic age.