City Hall Clock (Big Penn)

Broad Street and Philadelphia's New Sky-Scrapers, South from City Hall. Courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Transcription:

John Weber: I'm John Weber, and this is your WHYY Philly Phun Phact. Here's something really timely Most Philadelphians don't know. Philadelphia's clock on top of City hall is actually 3 ft larger in diameter than Big Ben in London. In fact, our clock was once called Big Penn.

Jim Murphy: You can easily see its yellow glow at night from all four directions, but especially from Broad Street. It looks smaller than Big Ben, though, because this clock is twice as high.

John Weber: That's tour guide Jim Murphy, author of Real Philly History, Real Fast. Put into service on December 31, 1898, the clock symbolized progress, mechanical prowess and scientific advancement.

Jim Murphy: What it doesn't have are numbers on it, just tick marks.

John Weber: There's no bell or gong either, for fear the courts inside City Hall would not permit it. The bell you hear is at 1 S. Broad St. I'm John Weber, and that's your WHYY Philly Phun Phact.