Who invented the first mechanical clock?
Mechanical clocks replaced the water clocks that had been used for thousands of years. No one knows who invented the first mechanical clock, but clues exist to its development and rapid spread across Europe. Features Mechanical clocks contain an escapement that ticks in a repetitive rhythm, moving the gears of the clock forward in short, equal jumps. The escapement is a notched wheel that controls the speed and regularity of the clock’s operation. History French architect Villard de Honnecourt described the first escapement in 1250, though he did not use it to make a clock. He built a device to point at the sun as it journeyed across the sky. Time Frame The Salisbury Cathedral clock, built in 1386, is the oldest in England. The first mechanical clocks were built in the late 13th century. The first mechanical clock
