In defense of the clock
Oct 27, 2014 | by Michael Champlin
The announcement of time
At some point the simple and taken-for-granted clock went from being the foundation of modern civilization to being so ubiquitous that we barely even notice it’s there at all. Just think, there was a time where having a clock in the home meant winding it, and winding it often — maybe even once a day. Now our digital devices measure our time, and I believe it makes us take time for granted.
We owe much of our modern life to the invention of the mechanical clock. Early navigation depended on it, as does our modern GPS; the advent of the clock changed everything. Gone was the time of scheduling life by the path of the sun. We built elegant clocks, elaborate clocks, giant clocks, complicated tiny pocket-watches. We put clocks in the center of town, made them landmarks and living room centerpieces.
We carry time in our pockets now. The advent of the smartphone has ensured that, bad choices notwithstanding, we’ll always wake up promptly at 7am, be on time to engagements, and never forget that it’s almost time to watch Modern Family.
Our devices are good at reminding us of the time because that’s what computers do best. They give way to a more precise way of living, a more time-centered society. The time is 12:34am, Siri set a timer for twenty-five minutes, 13 minutes until you arrive at your destination.
Tick tock
Has the manual clock gone the way of the typewriter? Does it exist only as a style statement, a throw-back to a simpler time (one with mechanical gears)? I think not.
Clocks in every room have fallen out of fashion, but for the collector this isn’t such a bad thing. I’m particularly fond of the ubiquitous bedside “flip clock” (think Groundhog Day) and it seems like these clocks, often with working AM radios, are becoming more and more common in vintage shops — and are often quite affordable. I admit I resist the urge to buy lots of bedside clocks, because I only have one bed, but a great “bedside” clock can be just as much as home in a bathroom, a kitchen, or on a desk.
A quick search of Etsy turns up a wealth of gorgeous vintage (and often restored) clocks, but I must admit my favorite place to find them is Estate Sales. You’ll be reminded that there was a time not so long ago when we didn’t carry time in our pockets. Unless of course you were a train conductor.
For me, the simple clock is a little way of fighting against the total stranglehold the smartphone tries to hold over my life. A clock is an infusion of style both aesthetic and functional. It says that time is not a buzzer, a reminder on your iPhone, a lock screen. Time ticks and moves and clicks, and time is beautiful.
For our readers: How do you feel about vintage clocks in our modern world?