Cuckoo Clock

[StinkyPete]

We've recently bought a Cuckoo Clock.   Today I noticed an error with the Roman Numerals for the clock face numbers.    Every bit of information that I've seen or read indicates that the Roman Numeral for the number 4 should be IV.    However, this high quality, and rather pricy hand made German Cuckoo Clock incorrectly shown the Roman Numerals IIII for the number 4 on the clock face.   

[Brock]

A bit of artistic licence perhaps. IIII is easier to position maybe.

[johnnyYTED]

                                                            
   its obvious the maker wasn't an IV user.       

[StinkyPete]

  its obvious the maker wasn't an IV user.

Very Good 

[Biggles]

There's a story behind that.  As I recall, King George Third refused to accept that IV was the correct designation and decreed it would be IIII.  The story is also attributed to King Louis XIV of France.

I prefer this reason: using IIII means that only I is seen the first four hour markings on the, V is only seen in the next four markings, and X is seen only in the last four markings, creating radial symmetry.

So it's really an artistic licence.

[StinkyPete]

Biggles, just for a minute I thought you were spreading BS, working on the theory that if you say something with enough conviction, you will be believed.

However, I'll never be able to look at a clock face with Roman numerals, without my eye being drawn to the fourth hour marker.     There are some very interesting and varied explanations.    Here's some...........   http://www.cuckooclockworld.com/funny06.htm

[tj189]

Google is my friend