Thirteenth stroke of the clock or "thirteen strikes of the clock" is a phrase, saying, and proverb to indicate that the previous events or 'strokes to the clock' must be called into question. This is illustrated in the case "Rex vs Haddock" in which a remark by a witness is compared to the thirteenth stroke of a clock. One lawyer argues that not only is this thirteenth strike discredited, but it casts a shade of doubt over all previous assertions.^[1] This proverb puts forth the notion that if just one of someone's proclamations is wrong, or something of a process is wrong, then all the previous items are called into question if they are correct and accurate. In a legal case then it brings forth the notion that the person's entire case of claims might not be valid because just one is obviously wrong. A lawyer would argue that it is like the thirteenth stroke of a clock - which is obviously wrong, since there is no thirteen o'clock.^[2]

A prominent physicist and mathametician notes the problem with his variation on the same general idea. He points out that if a clock strikes the thirteenth hour then it is counted wrong and reflects on the other twelve hours of the clock's strokes as then they could also be wrong.^[3]

A striking clock rings a bell once for each hour of the time. One ring is 1 o'clock, two rings is 2 o'clock, three rings is 3 o'clock, four rings is 4 o'clock, etc. Traditional clocks that strike a bell only mark 12 hours. After the twelfth hour with the twelve strikes of the bell then the next hour should be with one ring, indicating 1 o'clock. There is no thirteen o'clock, therefore when a clock strikes thirteen times it is indicating an impossible time and that the clock is not functioning correctly.

Striking clock mechanism

A description of the problem in a 100 year old tower striking clock starts with the fact that the striking mechanism has a snail with indentations that vary in depth progressively from one to twelve. It rotates via a gear drive over a twelve hour period. Shortly before each hour a rack with twelve cuts along its length is released to contact the snail. This makes the number of cuts available to activate the strike mechanism correspond to the depth of the snail at that hour.^[4]

Testing the rack in its place allows it to fall until the tail rests on the lowest step of the snail. The hook of the rack should then hold the rack so that there are twelve teeth gathered up. Trying it on the highest step should be now exactly fitting in the first rack tooth. This leaves only one to be gathered up. If the clock strikes thirteen when on the lowest step and two when on the highest, it shows that the end of the rack tail is a little too far off from the snail and must accordingly be set a little closer. If on the other hand the snail strikes the right number when on the lowest step and two when on the highest, then the proportion between the rack and rack tail is wrong. The rack tail travel is too great for the rack.^[5]

It is definitely true that a striking clock can strike thirteen times. If the mechanics are defective and not working properly a striking clock can ring thirteen bongs of the bell.^[5]

Culture

There is a London legend of a clock that struck thirteen times and saved a man's life. The story goes in Great Britian that St Paul's Cathedral clock on one occasion struck thirteen at midnight, with the extraordinary result of saving the life of a soldier accused of sleeping at his post. An obituary notice of a John Hatfield appeared in the Public Advertiser a few days afterwards states that, when a soldier in the time of William and Mary was tried by a court-martial on a charge of having fallen asleep when on duty upon the terrace at Windsor. It goes on to say that he categorically denied the charge against him. He swore as a proof of his having been awake at the time that he heard St Paul's Cathedral clock strike thirteen, the truth of which was much doubted by the court because of the great distance. An affidavit was made by several persons that verified the clock actually did strike thirteen instead of twelve. He ultimately received a pardon.^[6]

There is a poem that alludes to this published in 1774 called A Trip to Windsor by Timothy Scribble:

A children's riddle says; What time is it when the clock strikes thirteen? Their answer is: Time to get a new clock! Most countries of Europe and other countries around the world use a twenty-four hour system. Americans, however, do not except in the military. Therefore Americans do not have an understanding of "13 o'clock" and it indicates to them that the clock is broken.^[7] In European clocks that use the 24 hour system all the hours from 1 to 12 are before noon. The numbers of 13 to 24 are in the afternoon or p.m.^[8]

Adolf Hitler is quoted as saying, I make it a principle not to stop until the clock strikes thirteen. This was in reference to him never giving up as Germany did in the first World War. This was said in November of 1942 at almost certain defeat because at the time Paulus's army had surrendered and the German army had retreated in North Africa. He wanted to point out to his enemy that he was not going to surrender under any circumstances - so he used an analogy that theorically could not happen.^[9]

Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, owned extensive coal mines near Manchester. He spent a fortune operating them and a canal to carry the coal to Manchester and Liverpool. He noticed that his workers ceased working the moment the bell struck twelve times at twelve o'clock, which was lunch time. They, however, were slow in returning to work at one o'clock. The excuse was that they did not hear the clock strike just once. The Duke then had the clock made to strike thirteen times at one o'clock, so that the men could no longer use the excuse that they didn't hear it.^[10]

Mark Twain is known to have said: The thirteenth stroke of the clock is not only false of itself, but casts grave doubt on the credibility of the preceding twelve.^[11]

Literature

The idea of a clock striking thirteen times has shown up many times in literature. The most famous is the first line in George Orwell’s "1984" when it starts with, It was a bright cold day in April, and all the clocks were striking thirteen.^[12]