Post by CuriousJM on Apr 27, 2023 11:46:54 GMT
The Harmony Clock Tower in Zhanggong district, Ganzhou, China, has the world's largest pendulum-regulated clock.
The clock's four stainless steel dials have a diameter of 12.8 metres (41 feet, 11.94 inches), which is nearly double the size of those on the Elizabeth Tower (popularly known as Big Ben). Its lightweight carbon fibre hands weigh between 65 and 70 kg. The clock is controlled by a swinging pendulum that measures 13 feet in length and has a swing time of 2 seconds. The bell of the clock chimes hourly and at sunrise. It also strikes once on the half hour.
The clock movement is composed of hardened steel with a bronze finish, brass, and gold-plated components. The 120 metres (393 ft.) high clock tower houses a rotating restaurant as well as a "Time Gallery" that chronicles the history of timekeeping through the stages of human progress.
The enormous clock was commissioned by the Ganzhou Expressway Company Ltd. and was designed and built by famous clockmakers, Smith of Derby Ltd. of the UK.
Note: The clock face of the Abraj Al-Bait Towers, aka the Royal Clock Hotel Tower, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is much bigger, or rather the biggest in the world, but it is controlled by an atomic clock, whereas the clock of the Harmony Tower is mechanically controlled by a pendulum.
Image from Google Maps is by Qasim Foo
Image from Google Maps is by Justin Brady
Image Source: smithofderby.com. Permission to use image is thankfully acknowledged.
Image Source: smithofderby.com. Permission to use image is thankfully acknowledged.
Google Street View (Photosphere)
Location in Google Map (Satellite view). There is some discrepancy in the Google Maps' default view and in its satellite view. The explanation for this discrepancy is given at this link.
Source of information: guinnessworldrecords.com / smithofderby.com
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