Some Universally Popular Clocks

Without a doubt, Big Ben is the United Kingdom’s most renowned clock and amongst London's most prominent attractions.

There is a certain degree of perplexity as to why it is called Big Ben. Quite a few people take it to represent the whole clock tower located at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster Palace. Others apply the name in referring to only the clock. But the truth is that 'Big Ben' actually refers to the bell, and not the clock. However, the majority of people link Big Ben with the clock.

Now Big Ben is colossal. The tower is around three hundred and sixteen feet in height. Each of the clock’s four faces is twenty-three feet square with the figures being four feet tall each. Besides, the Great Bell weighs thirteen tons and is seven and a half feet in height.
The Clock of the Long Now

This clock is the world's biggest, most slow moving and the sturdiest one. As of now, this clock is not in existence. At the London Science Museum, a prototype of it is on exhibition. Long Now Foundation is undertaking this venture.

This Foundation was started in 1996 (or, in 01996 as they like to refer to it) in order to inspire thinking long-term regarding the future of this planet and of humankind, perhaps 10,000 years ahead into the future. Now the musician Brian Eno, one of its founding members, invented the moniker "Long Now". The fast-paced New York way of life was the inspiration behind this name.

This clock is projected as a firm representation of thinking long-term. Moreover, the foundation has invested in a mountain top property in Nevada and it is believed that the Long Now Clock’s permanent model will be set up over here.
Rajabai Clock Tower

This clock tower is to be found in South Mumbai in India. It is situated in the grounds of Mumbai University.

The clock tower was erected in the nineteenth century, sometime between 1869-1878. An English architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, designed it on the Big Ben model. Premchand Roychand, a stockbroker, bore the entire cost of manufacture in return for having it named after Rajabai, his mother.

Now the clock peals once in fifteen minutes in a day. When the clock was first constructed, it used to play sixteen different musical tunes such as "God Save the King" and "Rule Brittania" – it was the rule of the British Empire then. Currently, it just plays the Big Ben chimes.

The clock tower is about two hundred and eighty feet or eighty five meters tall and apparently one can witness great views from there. Regrettably, the stairway that takes one to the top of the tower has been shut down to visitors after several people suffering from depression leaped to their death. It is expected that within a year the clock tower will be open to visitors once again.
Strasbourg Astronomical Clock

Strasbourg Cathedral located in Strasbourg city in Alsace, which France had occupied in the latter half of the seventh century, houses this clock. Its most remarkable features, apart from the automata, are an orrery (or planetary dial), a perpetual calendar, a showing of the actual Sun and Moon’s position, and the lunar and solar eclipses. It is called "L'Horloge Astronomique" or the renowned astronomical clock. Being 142 meters in height, it was considered the tallest building in the world from 1625-1874.

The original clock was constructed somewhere around 1352. For around 150 years it remained in place until it finally stopped working. In 1547, work started on a replacement but on account of the religious tumult that occurred then, it could not be finished until after about thirty years.

The thing that makes it a veritable tourist landmark for people traveling to Strasbourg is its automata collection that performs at different levels. The key "show" occurs daily at 12:30 p.m. At the top level, one can witness the beautiful figures of the famous twelve apostles march in front of Jesus Christ and stoop before him even as a cock opens its wings out and crows. An angel twirls an hourglass, while another strikes a metal disc.

Sung Su's Clock - The Cosmic Engine

Sung Su’s astronomical clock tower is amongst the most popular of medieval clocks. This enormous tower was constructed around 1090 CE in China and was called the "Cosmic Engine".

Now it was in 1086 that the Cosmic Engine commenced working when the then Chinese boy emperor ruled the construction of an astronomical clock that was to outshine the rest. Su Sung was given the project and he in turn selected as his principal designer, Han Kung-lien. It was in 1094 that the clock was actually finished. Information regarding its design was out in print bearing the heading "New Design for a Mechanized Armillary".

This astronomical tower indeed was amongst biggest water clocks. This clock was run by a huge water wheel that had hinged scoops at its end. Water from a nearby tank filled them up and they effectively became a massive water-driven escapement.

Now the clock tower was about thirty feet high with an additional ten feet put on for an observation stand.

Source: http://www.stunningclocks.com