06/08/2006
Top 10 Strangest Clocks

10. Cathode Ray Tube Clock

The PC board holds a switching power supply, a crystal-controlled microcontroller for generating the timing and scanning the digits, and an analog circle generator system to draw the digits. It makes circles directly from sine and cosine waves. That’s why the curves look so clean.[Source]
9. The Water Powered Clock

We've had ours running for weeks so far and the water levels have barely descended and we haven't had to refill it at all.[Source]
8. Spy Camcorder Clock

7. Lexon's On-Off Alarm Clock

While we're sure this will result in some exciting and violent early morning clock tilting action, we're not so sure how snooze functionality factors in[Source]
6. Rolling Ball Lego Clock
Based on the original rolling ball clock by Idle Tyme Corporation, this Lego version is a bit more amusing to watch -- complete with an RCX 1.0 and external supply to obtain longtime stability. Four video clips after the jump.The clock works by using steel balls to indicate the exact time. The bottom rail represents the hours. The middle and upper rails are used to represent the minutes. An electric motor scoops up a ball every minute. Every five minutes, the top rail will dump and deposit a ball on the second rail. Every hour, the upper and middle rails dump and one ball is transferred to the bottom rail to increment the hours.
5. AXbo Alarm Clock

4. Functional Hard Drive Clock
Alan Parekh converted an old hard drive into a fully functional clock. It uses twelve high power LEDs to display the clock hands and a custom programmed PIC16F628 microcontroller for clock operation. Unfortunately, this creation isn't very practical as older hard drives are quite noisy.Slot cut into upper drive platter and white tape on center drive platter provides a slot that when illuminated by the LED’s will represent a clock hand. Minute hand is represented by blue light, hour hand is represented by red light and the second hand is represented by purple (both blue and red on at the same time). Infrared Beam sensor and drilled index hole in lower drive platter. Three micro switches to set hours, minutes and seconds.[Source]
3. Pong Clock
Now you don't even need to play Pong to enjoy it, presenting the Pong clock. The score shown on the left and right sides correspond to the time of day. A continuous random game of Pong is played by the clock every 24 hours. [Source]2. Digital Clock T-Shirt

And if the static display doesn’t fit your style you can select up to 8 different flashing patterns or even switch it to a stopwatch mode.[Source]
1. Rat Race Clock

Honorable Mention - Nintendo Famicon Alarm Clocks

Honorable Mention - Giovannoni Timesphere

While sitting on the base, the wireless orb is charged through induction and once it is completely charged feel free to place it wherever. The orb will project the time onto a wall or surface and easily be lost when kicked or played with by a cat.[Source]
Honorable Mention - Drill Sergeant Alarm Clock
