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brianmcgeary | 06:40 Fri 04th Apr 2003 | Technology
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Why does every clock and watch face bearing roman numerals always have 4 O'Clock represented as four straight lines, never IV?
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Avatar Image Pinotage
Its just to make it look better symetrically, as the IIII balances the VIII at the same place on the other side. However there are some old clock faces that do use IV - Its the choice of the clockmaker.
09:55 Fri 04th Apr 2003
Avatar Image xyzzyplugh
just to agree with pinotage; a question of balance. :-)
14:29 Fri 04th Apr 2003
Avatar Image Domnal
It was in case you confused IV with VI if you looked at the dial quickly. Comes from the old Sun Dial days.
23:36 Fri 04th Apr 2003
Avatar Image Squirrel
Similarly, I always wondered why the number eight was written as "VIII". It seemed like "IIX" would have been neater, but as Domnai said, it's probably just in case you get them muddled up.
21:22 Sun 06th Apr 2003

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