The Figure IIII. on Clocks.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20632, 5 June 1935, Page 5

The Figure 1111. on Clocks.

There is a tradition that Charles V. of France was always ready to find fault, and on one occasion, in 1370, when a clock was placed before him, he lived up to his reputation by having that the face was not accurately done. The maker, Vick, asked where the mistake was. and Charles, not finding one, said that the four was wrong—it was written IV. The workman rightly claimed that this was correct; but simply to sustain his argument Charles said that it should be written 1111., and since that day clockmakers have used four strokes. Dr G. C. Williamson, in his book on “ Curious Survivals.” gives the following explanation of the figure 1111. on clocks: "This is said to have arisen in the time of Louis XIV., when the King complained that on his watch he confused the IV. with VI., and sent it back to the maker to have a change made, whereupon the courtiers decided to copy the King’s example: their watches were altered accordingly.” The orthodox IV. is used on some London clocks: the Houses of Parliament clock has it.