Christoph Paccard BellfoundriesChristoph Paccard Bellfoundries

Tower Clocks

Church Bell

Tower ClocksSince their invention in the 11th century, tower clocks have become a common fixture in towns throughout the world. Tower clocks can either be mounted to buildings to highlight their importance or as part of a standalone clock tower to add to their surroundings. They vary in size and style and can be crafted to compliment almost any type of architecture. Tower clocks act as the distinguished focal point of town centers, parks, colleges, universities and public gardens. Their architectural significance usually plays a major role in the history of the towns and cities they are featured in.

Until the 18th century, clocks were considered rare. It was highly uncommon to see them in homes or in buildings. Watches, which were known as “personal clocks” didn’t gain popularity until the mid-1900s. The earliest tower clocks were synchronized with church bell towers and were very different to the conventional vision of what a tower clock looks like now, because they were made without hands or faces. These early “tower clocks” were actually just church bells that were rung to alert the community of the time, when it was time to worship, of emergencies and of special ceremonies. The physical height of structures with tower clocks, (bells, in those early days), played a vital role in their effectiveness, because the higher a tower clock was, the easier it was for people to hear it from a distance. Eventually tower clocks were constructed with dials and became the visible tower clocks that we are familiar with today, so that anyone who lived near them could easily keep track of the time in between the chime of the bells. As tower clocks evolved, it became more common for them to have faces on all of the sides of the tower, so that the time could be seen from all angles.

Standalone tower clocks usually served a purpose, besides being an elegant addition to the local architecture. Some tower clocks worked as advertisements for local businesses that sponsored them. Businesses, like insurance companies, banks and other service providers would use tower clocks that were attached to their buildings or stood alone on busy intersections to promote their name or trade. They symbolized the trustworthiness and stability of the business. The idea was that you could count on whatever company sponsored the clock tower, because their intentions would be as true as the time. It also said a lot about the business’ long term plans to always be available to the public. This was very popular in Great Britain.

Tower ClocksTower clocks were also built by the government as commemoration for local and national events. They could have been government funded or constructed through local donations. A prime example of this are the Jubilee Tower Clocks that are scattered throughout the streets of England. These tower clocks were built to celebrate the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Christoph Paccard Bellfoundries realizes that world class quality tower clocks that are carefully designed and manufactured will transform from just a simple timepiece to a valuable monument for a community. This type of investment will supplement a town’s cultural beauty and can accent any architectural project for generations. Our tower clocks are made from the finest materials so that they provide durability and long-term accuracy. We create tower clocks that are built to not only look beautiful, but also perform beautifully for many years to come.

Please call us at 1-800-849-6670 to learn more about how we can help you design the best solution to meet your needs.