Big Ben

[tim-from-pa]

Not sure where to post this, but this is technology of sorts, say, 1859 technology. The science forum seems to obsess on creation/evolution questions and this did not seem to fit well there. Anyhoo.....

I'm not as much of a horologist as I am a gnomonist, but I find this super interesting....

http://www.parliament.uk/about/livi...ben/inside-clock-tower/how-great-clock-works/

 

[farouk]

Big Ben is the clock, strictly speaking, rather than the tower, but a lot of people call the tower 'Big Ben'.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Big Ben is the clock, strictly speaking, rather than the tower, but a lot of people call the tower 'Big Ben'.

Sort of. You're on the right track, though. Big Ben is the 13.5 ton bell that tolls the hour. But the clock is not complete without Big Ben so the convention has been to call the clock and tower that. The tower was recently named to the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee this year.