The Clocks, Watches, and Sundials ClipArt gallery offers 61 illustrations of time-keeping devices and related images. For views of many clock faces for time-telling activities, please see the Miscellaneous Clock Faces ClipArt gallery in the Mathematics section.

In horology, the recoil or anchor escapement is a type of escapement used in pendulum clocks. An escapement is the mechanism in a mechanical clock that maintains the swing of the pendulum and advances the clock's wheels at each swing.

Anchor Escapement

In horology, the recoil or anchor escapement is a type of escapement used in pendulum clocks. An escapement…

A Chippendale clock.

Chippendale

A Chippendale clock.

An instrument that measures time in a precise manner.

Chronometer

An instrument that measures time in a precise manner.

A bronze clock stand from the style of Henry II.

Clock

A bronze clock stand from the style of Henry II.

This clock is engraved and used as a centerpiece to a candelabrum. The figures are made of bronze and the dial is gold.

Clock

This clock is engraved and used as a centerpiece to a candelabrum. The figures are made of bronze and…

This clock is made out of bronze with a design of a group of figures supporting a starry globe, with serpent clock hands.

Clock

This clock is made out of bronze with a design of a group of figures supporting a starry globe, with…

An instrument or machine for measuring time.

Clock

An instrument or machine for measuring time.

This clock is used on a table.

Clock

This clock is used on a table.

An illustration of the interior of a common English House Clock.

English House Clock

An illustration of the interior of a common English House Clock.

A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. The English clockmaker William Clement is credited with the development of this form in 1670. Most longcase clocks are striking clocks, which means they sound the time on each hour or fraction of an hour.

Long Case Clock

A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding,…

The Barocco clock-case of the 17th century had a case for protecting the interior work against dust and for giving the clock a more pleasing aspect. This clock was placed on a pedestal.

Barocco Clock-Case

The Barocco clock-case of the 17th century had a case for protecting the interior work against dust…

This Modern clock-case was mostly made with a roof.

Modern Clock-Case

This Modern clock-case was mostly made with a roof.

This Modern clock-case was made with metal ornaments. It was Dome-shaped and crowned by a small bell-turret.

Modern Clock-Case

This Modern clock-case was made with metal ornaments. It was Dome-shaped and crowned by a small bell-turret.

This Modern clock-case had a hanging-case intended for both weight and pendulum clocks.

Modern Clock-Case

This Modern clock-case had a hanging-case intended for both weight and pendulum clocks.

This Toilet-stand clock-case was made during the German Renaissance in 1597. A slender tall cabinet, the upper and lower parts of which are provided with doors, which holds various necessary objects, while the center takes the form of a niche. Inside the niche hangs a metal water-reservoir with a lid and a drain. It also includes metal wrought-iron towel-holders.

Toilet-Stand Clock-Case

This Toilet-stand clock-case was made during the German Renaissance in 1597. A slender tall cabinet,…

This Toilet-stand clock-case was made during the German Renaissance. Made of various colored wood, it was a slender tall cabinet where the upper and lower parts included doors, which holds various necessary objects. The center takes the form of a niche and inside the niche hangs a metal water-reservoir with a lid and a drain. It also includes metal wrought-iron towel-holders.

Toilet-Stand Clock-Case

This Toilet-stand clock-case was made during the German Renaissance. Made of various colored wood, it…

This clock-stand is richly designed with human figures.

Clock-Stand

This clock-stand is richly designed with human figures.

Machinery and movements of a clock, or resembling those of a clock.

Clock-work

Machinery and movements of a clock, or resembling those of a clock.

The deadbeat has a second face on the pallets, called the 'locking' face, with a curved surface concentric with the pivot that the anchor turns on. When an escape wheel tooth is resting against one of these faces, its force is directed through the pivot axis, so it gives no impulse to the pendulum, allowing it to swing freely. During most of the pendulum's swing, the tooth is in this locked position. Near the bottom of the pendulum's swing the tooth slides off the locking face onto the slanted 'impulse' face of the pallet, allowing the escape wheel to turn and give the pendulum a push, before dropping off the pallet. The drag of the escape tooth on the locking face does add a small amount of friction to the pendulum's swing (this is called a frictional rest type escapement), but it is usually negligible. In contrast to the backward slant of the anchor escape wheel teeth, the deadbeat escape wheel teeth usually slant forward to ensure that the tooth makes contact with the locking face of the pallet, preventing recoil.

Deadbeat Escapement

The deadbeat has a second face on the pallets, called the 'locking' face, with a curved surface concentric…

An instrument for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style on a graduated surface.

Dial

An instrument for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style on a graduated surface.

An illustration of Hope Jone's dial-driving device. "Each time that a current is sent by the master clock, the electromagnet B attracts the pivoted armature C, and then the current ceases the lever D with the projecting arm E is driven back to its old position by the spring F, thus driving the wheel A forward one division. G is a back stop click, and H, I fixed stops." —Britannica, 1910

Dial Driving Device

An illustration of Hope Jone's dial-driving device. "Each time that a current is sent by the master…

A kind of portable sundial, consisting of a metal ring, broad in proportion to its diameter, and having slits in the direction of its circumference.

Ring Dial

A kind of portable sundial, consisting of a metal ring, broad in proportion to its diameter, and having…

This dial features a clock face which is the part of an analog clock that displays the time through the use of a fixed numbered dial and moving hands. In its most basic form, the dial is numbered 1-12.

Watch and Clock Dial

This dial features a clock face which is the part of an analog clock that displays the time through…

"A front view of a common English house clock with the face taken off, showing the repeating or rack striking movement. Here, M is the hourwheel on the pipeof which the minute-hand is set, N the reversed hour-wheel, and n its pinion, driving the 12-hour wheel H, on whose socket is ficed what is called the snail Y, which belongs to the striking work exclusively. The hammer is raised by the eight pins in the rim of the second wheel in the striking train, in the manner which is obvious." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

English House Clock

"A front view of a common English house clock with the face taken off, showing the repeating or rack…

"Waltham Lever Escapement. A device for the governing of speed is the one thing on which accurate time measuring depends." -Hill, 1921

Lever Escapement

"Waltham Lever Escapement. A device for the governing of speed is the one thing on which accurate time…

A gravity escapement uses a small weight or a weak spring to give an impulse directly to the pendulum. The earliest form consisted of two arms which were pivoted very close to the suspension spring of the pendulum with one arm on each side of the pendulum. Each arm carried a small dead beat pallet with an angled plane leading to it. When the pendulum lifted one arm far enough its pallet would release the escape wheel. Almost immediately another tooth on the escape wheel would start to slide up the angle face on the other arm thereby lifting the arm. It would reach the pallet and stop. The other arm meanwhile was still in contact with pendulum and coming down again to a point lower than it had started from. This lowering of the arm provides the impulse to the pendulum. The design was developed steadily from the middle of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century. It eventually became the escapement of choice for turret clocks.

Bloxam's Gravity Escapement

A gravity escapement uses a small weight or a weak spring to give an impulse directly to the pendulum.…

A gravity escapement uses a small weight or a weak spring to give an impulse directly to the pendulum. The earliest form consisted of two arms which were pivoted very close to the suspension spring of the pendulum with one arm on each side of the pendulum. Each arm carried a small dead beat pallet with an angled plane leading to it. When the pendulum lifted one arm far enough its pallet would release the escape wheel. Almost immediately another tooth on the escape wheel would start to slide up the angle face on the other arm thereby lifting the arm. It would reach the pallet and stop. The other arm meanwhile was still in contact with pendulum and coming down again to a point lower than it had started from. This lowering of the arm provides the impulse to the pendulum. The design was developed steadily from the middle of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century. It eventually became the escapement of choice for turret clocks.

Mudge's Gravity Escapement

A gravity escapement uses a small weight or a weak spring to give an impulse directly to the pendulum.…

The chief advantages of the horizontal sundial are that it is easy to read, and the sun lights the face throughout the year. All the hour-lines intersect at the point where the gnomon's style crosses the horizontal plane. Since the style is aligned with the Earth's rotational axis, the style points true North and its angle with the horizontal equals the sundial's geographical latitude λ. A sundial designed for one latitude can be used in another latitude, provided that the sundial is tilted upwards or downwards by an angle equal to the difference in latitude. For example, a sundial designed for a latitude of 40° can be used at a latitude of 45°, if the sundial plane is tilted upwards by 5°, thus aligning the style with the Earth's rotational axis.

Horizontal Dial

The chief advantages of the horizontal sundial are that it is easy to read, and the sun lights the face…

An instrument for measuring time, especially the interval of an hour, by the running of sand out of a glass vessel.

Hour-glass

An instrument for measuring time, especially the interval of an hour, by the running of sand out of…

An illustration of a hourglass.

Hourglass

An illustration of a hourglass.

An illustration of a section of the interior of a large house clock.

House Clock

An illustration of a section of the interior of a large house clock.

This clock and inkstand is was designed for a library table.

Clock and Inkstand

This clock and inkstand is was designed for a library table.

Watch belonging to Martha Custis Washington (June 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802), the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States. During her lifetime, she was simply known as "Lady Washington."

Martha Washington's Bridal Watch

Watch belonging to Martha Custis Washington (June 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802), the wife of George…

A Memograph is a clock that is designed to make a loud sound at a specific time. The primary use of these clocks is to awaken people from their sleep in order to start their days in the mornings, but can also be used for short naps; they are sometimes used for other reminders as well.

Memograph Clock

A Memograph is a clock that is designed to make a loud sound at a specific time. The primary use of…

Old clock with Roman numerals, 11:58.

Old clock

Old clock with Roman numerals, 11:58.

A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum.

Pendelum

A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity…

An illustration of pin-wheel escapement.

Pin-Wheel Escapement

An illustration of pin-wheel escapement.

In polar dials, the shadow-receiving plane is aligned parallel to the gnomon-style. Thus, the shadow slides sideways over the surface, moving perpendicularly to itself as the sun rotates about the style. As with the gnomon, the hour-lines are all aligned with the Earth's rotational axis. When the sun's rays are nearly parallel to the plane, the shadow moves very quickly and the hour lines are spaced far apart. The direct East- and West-facing dials are examples of a polar dial. However, the face of a polar dial need not be vertical; it need only be parallel to the gnomon.

Polar Dials

In polar dials, the shadow-receiving plane is aligned parallel to the gnomon-style. Thus, the shadow…

An electrical remontoire can be either a gravity or spring type. In it, the weight or spring is rewound electrically, with a motor or solenoid. It is used in clocks with traditional mechanical movements which are run on electricity.

Electrical Remontoire

An electrical remontoire can be either a gravity or spring type. In it, the weight or spring is rewound…

A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style (a thin rod or a sharp, straight edge) onto a flat surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow-edge progressively aligns with different hour-lines on the plate. Such designs rely on the style being aligned with the axis of the Earth's rotation. Hence, if such a sundial is to tell the correct time, the style must point towards true North (not the north or south magnetic pole) and the style's angle with horizontal must equal the sundial's geographical latitude.

Sundial

A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal…

"A form of Sun-dial that is as god to-day as any dial for determining noon." -Bodmer, 1917

Modern Sundial

"A form of Sun-dial that is as god to-day as any dial for determining noon." -Bodmer, 1917

In the common vertical dial, the shadow-receiving plane is aligned vertically; as usual, the gnomon's style is aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation. As in the horizontal dial, the line of shadow does not move uniformly on the face; the sundial is not equiangular.

Vertical South Dial

In the common vertical dial, the shadow-receiving plane is aligned vertically; as usual, the gnomon's…

A small timepiece, to be carried in the pocket.

Watch

A small timepiece, to be carried in the pocket.

This back of watch is elaborately engraved. It was made in London, England.

Back of Watch

This back of watch is elaborately engraved. It was made in London, England.

This back of watch is elaborately engraved. It was made in London, England.

Back of Watch

This back of watch is elaborately engraved. It was made in London, England.

This back of watch is elaborately engraved. It was made in London, England.

Back of Watch

This back of watch is elaborately engraved. It was made in London, England.

This back of watch engraving is a British design.

Back of Watch

This back of watch engraving is a British design.

This brooch watch is designed to be pinned on a garment. It shaped in a snake that is formed into a circle, with a small watch in the center that is held by the serpents mouth.

Brooch Watch

This brooch watch is designed to be pinned on a garment. It shaped in a snake that is formed into a…

The chatelaine watch is designed to fit in a pocket. It is designed with decorative chains.

Châtelaine Watch

The chatelaine watch is designed to fit in a pocket. It is designed with decorative chains.

The chatelaine watch is designed to fit in a pocket. It is designed with decorative chains.

Chatelaine Watch

The chatelaine watch is designed to fit in a pocket. It is designed with decorative chains.

This pocket watch has a unique design on its back of leaves and circles. The circular handle at the top of the watch allows it to be attached to a waistcoat, lapel or belt loop using a chain.

Pocket Watch

This pocket watch has a unique design on its back of leaves and circles. The circular handle at the…

This pocket watch has a unique design of a figure head in the center and scrolls of leaves all around. The circular handle at the top of the watch allows it to be attached to a waistcoat, lapel or belt loop using a chain.

Pocket Watch

This pocket watch has a unique design of a figure head in the center and scrolls of leaves all around.…

This pocket watch has a simple floral design. The circular handle at the top of the watch allows it to be attached to a waistcoat, lapel or belt loop using a chain.

Pocket Watch

This pocket watch has a simple floral design. The circular handle at the top of the watch allows it…

This pocket watch has a simple floral design. The circular handle at the top of the watch allows it to be attached to a waistcoat, lapel or belt loop using a chain.

Pocket Watch

This pocket watch has a simple floral design. The circular handle at the top of the watch allows it…

An illustration of a pocket watch.

Pocket Watch

An illustration of a pocket watch.

This pocket watch has a circular handle at the top of the watch allowing it to be attached to a waistcoat, lapel or belt loop using a chain. The screw in the handle is used to wind the watch .

Pocket Watch

This pocket watch has a circular handle at the top of the watch allowing it to be attached to a waistcoat,…

A watch that is carried in a small watch pocket

Pocket Watch

A watch that is carried in a small watch pocket

A pocket watch from Switzerland in 1907.

Swiss Pocket Watch

A pocket watch from Switzerland in 1907.

This stem winding watch is a mechanical watch which is wound automatically by the natural motion of internally rotating parts

Self Winding Watch

This stem winding watch is a mechanical watch which is wound automatically by the natural motion of…

A typical pocket stop watch used for timing.

Stop Watch

A typical pocket stop watch used for timing.