Clocks & Thermometers

Outdoor Clocks: Probably the first outdoor clocks known to American Colonies were tower clocks or clocks that were brought here from England or Europe by colonists. Many of the churches or public buildings had clocks installed in their towers by use for all the townspeople, since the ownership of clocks by individuals was scarily a necessity in those early years of colonization. Before 1850 most of the outdoor tower clocks were made on special order by the various clock makers for churches and public buildings. After that date clocks were produced in quantity until about 1925, when their popularity ceased. Movements of the clocks were either of iron, brass or wood. Due to fires and other causes, comparatively few tower clocks have survived. Most of the earliest outdoor clocks have been removed to be preserved in museums.