When they first invented the clock, how did they know what time it was to set it to?

Answer 1

good question...i think time is an illusion...

Answer 2

Originally,each city would set their clock to their noon. In other words, when the sun was the highest in the sky was set to be 12 o'clock. There were no time zones at this time, so the times at the individual cities varied as you moved from east to west. Also, the first mechanical clocks were not very accurate with an error of an hour per month not uncommon. Finally, the first mechnical clocksin Europe did not have 'clock faces'. They used chimes or other music to declare the christian times of prayer (matins, nones, etc).

Answer 3

The first clock was a sun dial, which showed the position of the sun by the shadow it made. By careful measuring, and comparing the time it took for the shadow to move from one spot to another, or using an "hour glass", maybe they could set the clock to be more or less accurate.

Answer 4

Mr. Jacob Timex invented the watch. Than someone asked him if that was the first one. So he set the clock to 1:00 pm.

Answer 5

Before the clock, they had sun dials. This would tell them approximately what time it was.

I suppose, when the sundial pointed to 12, that is when they set their clocks.

Answer 6

They just winged it. When the sun was directly overhead, they said noon. The standard of a second was based on the inventors heart rate. He just calibrated his watch to this, counted the clicks in one revolution of the earth, made a few adjustments to get an even delineation, and BAM! we had time.

Answer 7

the sun was straight up...12 noon
early clocks had only an hour hand.

Answer 8

By using the sundials that were already invented.

Answer 9

They asked the sun dial.

Answer 10

Ancient Chinese Secret!

Answer 11

they used a sun dial