What Makes a Clock a Clock?

1. What Makes a Clock a
Clock?
By: Craig Duling

2. What Makes a Clock a Clock?
Craig Duling is the dedicated hobbyist behind www.heritagepocketwatch.com. At his
website, Craig Duling helps timepiece collectors and interested amateurs learn more
about clocks, pocket watches, and other timekeeping devices.

3. What Makes a Clock a Clock?
An instrument requires two main properties in order to be considered a clock. In a
mechanical clock, the mechanism that completes these functions is called an
escapement. Clocks require an action that is either repetitive or constant in order to mark
time in equal increments. The first necessary property is the time-keeping mechanism. In
a mechanical clock, this can be accomplished with early technologies such as verge and
foliot escapement or the more modern fusée cone systems. On the contrary, digital
clocks use an electronic gearing measure.

4. What Makes a Clock a Clock?
Clocks also require a mechanism for keeping track of these increments of time and
displaying them in a way that people can understand. In a mechanical clock, this means
that the timekeeping mechanisms must be capable of transferring energy to timepiece
arms in a way that makes them also move in equal increments. An LED or LCD screen
serves this function in a digital clocks.