Clocks........4 o'clock

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brisket

I am not talking about clock with figures here (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)
I am talking about clock faces with roman numerals:-
1 - 11 - 111 - ?? - V - V1 - V11 - V111 - 1X - X - X1 - X11
What about 4 o'clock?
Why do roman numeral clock faces show the numerals correctly - except when it comes to 4 o'clock?
Why do they show 1111 instead of 1V?

There are a few which display 1V - but they are indeed very few.
Anybody know why?

Replies sorted oldest to newest

KaffsMember 10 years

Wiki blames Louis XIV.

I can't believe I just Googled that.

10/4/107:35 AM

Karma_Member

No but I had the read the title of the thread 3 times

10/4/107:35 AM

Yogi19Member 10 years

@ Karma

10/4/107:42 AM

liverbirdMember 10 years

Blimey I hadn't noticed that before Brisket

10/4/107:43 AM

PeterCatMember

This reminds me of my OH's psychology degree

10/4/108:45 AM

Blizz'ardMember 10 years

Some say because it was more symmetrical, some say because Louis the IIIIIIIIIIIIII liked it better, but the most convincing is that that's how it was often written in those days.

Well's Cathedral Clock (the oldest surviving clock face) dated between 1386 and 1392, has IIII instead of IV.

10/4/109:10 AM

brisketMember Memoriam

Reference: Blizzie

Louis the IIIIIIIIIIIIII

Love it!

Edited: Thanks for the information Blizzie

10/4/109:24 AM

El LoroMember VIP10 yearsModerator

Here's a link to an article with some alternative possible reasons. When you get to the page, don't bother clicking on the link shown which starts with Donn Latrop as it no loner works.

It's worth reading, if you are interested in this.

10/4/1010:53 AM

CarnelianMember 10 years

I think I've pondered it once or twice over the years but only for a few moments. Big Ben uses IV instead of IIII.

10/4/1012:01 PM

CarnelianMember 10 years

BTW, Brisket, it's not number 1, 11, 111 etc, it's letter I, II, III, etc

10/4/1012:04 PM

brisketMember Memoriam

El Loro - thanks for the link. There is more behind this than I first thought.

I liked reading that.
Carnelian - ah! yes. Thanks

10/4/101:43 PM

Ev (Peachy)Member

Here is a good Clock

10/4/102:00 PM

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