Looking Back in Time, part 1

This is the first of a series of posts about interesting early clocks. and the new clocks that were inspired by them.

Su Song was a renowned Chinese statesman, astronomer, cartographer, horologist, pharmacologist, mineralogist, zoologist, botanist, mechanical and architectural engineer, poet, antiquarian, and ambassador of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). He was the engineer of a water-driven mechanical clock in medieval Kaifeng which used an escapement similar to the modern anchor escapement. It was also the first known clock to use the "endless chain drive."

The clock was a giant astronomical clock with mechanically animated puppets.



For more new clocks similar to this ancient idea, check out our website at www.NorthCoastImports.com

Cuckoo Clock from Legos? Leggo my Cuckoo!

Trying to keep a good thing down?

University Park (a suburb of Dallas) is the home of a man with a vision. Karl Kuby wants to install a huge outdoor cuckoo clock above his Snider Plaza restaurant and market, but the government may get in his way.

What shopping center wouldn't look better with a cuckoo clock, let alone a giant one?

Take comfort, Mr. Kuby, we cuckoo clock lovers are behind you!

Fans of North Coast Imports know that our founder, Karl Schleutermann, built these giant cuckoo clocks for theme parks, shopping centers, etc. Here's his famous creation at Alpine Alpa or Grandma's Homestead:

Some fun

What did the Swiss invent?

Even though this little quote has done so much to spread the misnomer that the Swiss invented the cuckoo clock, I still love the movie. The Prater hasn't changed all that much, except there's no way you can open the door when it's up high. I rode on it again a few months ago.



For a pretty good history on the cuckoo clock take a look at the Wikipedia

Sternreiter gets noticed

Sternreiter alarm clocks have been featured on BoingBoing!

If you don't have our immensely popular alarm clocks yet you need one. Whether you are a North Coast Imports dealer or a late sleeper - you need one of these clocks!

Clock History

The James Burke television series of the '70s, Connections still remains immensely popular. He had a real knack for telling the history of change.

In this episode Burke is talking about the history of the clock, and how it relates to the development of the computer as well as mechanized production and the development of the U.S. as an industrial power.

He starts here by explaining early Arabic theories in astronomy and astrology, as well as European contemporaries' need for hourly prayer in the Dark Ages. Burke takes us through history, pointing out the need for an accurate clock and the rise of Christiann Huygens's important invention: the pendulum clock.

By the end of the first segment here, Burke introduces the verge and foliott - the exact escapement found in our "Rock Clock" which was in use in the Black Forest in Germany in 1640. In the second segment listed here he talkes about a fusee mechanism and goes on to show other mechanical marvels like our cuckoo clocks - or our "Rottenburg", for example.

The entire episode is available on YouTube in segments. I would highly reccommend checking the entire series out of your local library or favorite video store.