World Clock, World clock in Alexanderplatz, Germany
The World Clock is a 10-meter-tall structure made of steel and aluminum standing on Alexanderplatz that displays the current time in 148 cities simultaneously. At its core is a rotating cylinder with multiple clock faces that turn continuously.
The World Clock was unveiled on 30 September 1969, ahead of the GDR's 20th anniversary, as part of the socialist redesign of Alexanderplatz. Erich John designed it with about 120 specialists, including metal sculptor Hans-Joachim Kunsch and the Coswig gear factory. In 1997 it was restored for 350,000 marks; city names such as Leningrad and Alma Ata were updated and 20 cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, were added.
The clock displays city names from around the world, reflecting Berlin's view of itself as a global city. Visitors from different countries come here to find their hometowns on the rotating faces.
The clock is centrally located on Alexanderplatz and is easily reached on foot, especially if you arrive by U-Bahn or S-Bahn. The best time to visit is during daytime when there is enough light for photographs and crowds are lighter.
The hour ring is driven by a converted Trabant gearbox and a Rothe Erde ball bearing, both in service since 1969. The motor sits in a 5 by 5 metre room two metres beneath Alexanderplatz. During the 1997 overhaul the ring was set to run about five percent fast and stop briefly at each hour, so timing errors cannot accumulate.
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