The first household clocks were known as chamber clocks. These were generally hung from a wall, with weights dangling from the bottom. The weights were used to keep the hours. Most of these clocks only had an hour hand, and the earliest ones would run for little more then ten hours. As the system of force distribution, was improved on these clocks became smaller and better designed. The invention of the pendulum in 1658 made these clocks much more reliable, and easier to manufacture. This is shown in the long case clock, invented to house the pendulum.

The next few years saw many improvements on the pendulum as they made it longer and more accurate. The invention of spring clocks was a major improvement to the clock industry. At first the springs caused these clocks to go faster right after they were wound, and then gradually slower and slower. This problem was solved in small parts over the next 300 years, as the making and application of the springs got better and better.

The modern clock is often an electric machine that runs much more accurately then the old water driven Greek clocks. However they are still not perfect. Trying to attain precision timing has caused people to look to quasar timing, timing by the pulses in a pulsar star. There are also clocks that measure the spin of electrons, or sun spots. Future innovations may make clocks even more accurate in ways we haven’t even thought of. Its an exciting time in clock design and fabrication.