Memorial to Jens Olsen - watchmaker and astromechanic in Ribe

Memorial plaque to Jens Olsen, creator of the World Clock at Copenhagen City Hall, born in Ribe in 1872.

Jens Olsen, the Astromechanic, who created the World Clock at Copenhagen City Hall was born in Ribe in 1872 and did his apprenticeship here. He went "on the waltz" in 1897 and looked for every opportunity to work with clocks and in the evenings he studied astronomy. Along the way he stopped in France and Switzerland.

Among other things, he works one and a half years in Paris during the World's Fair in 1900 and he ended his 5-year trip abroad with a few months in London.

He spent 160.000 man-hours building the world clock, but unfortunately he never got to see his life's work finished.

Jens Olsen was no longer alive when King Frederik IX started the clock in December 1955.

More information about Jens Olson

 

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