Why is clockwise clockwise?

[gomezz]

Listening to a podcast yesterday where the presenter was talking about their collection of odd watches including one which ran backwards. I was hoping they would go on to discuss the origin of clockwisivity but sadly they did not so after a brief ponder I came up with an explanation which was confirmed by an online search.

 

[EEPhil]

I don't know, but certainly in Munich I've seen: "In Bayern geh'n Die Uhren anders" along with clocks that are "backwards". I thought it might be for the tourist trade - but it appears there is at least one clock with two faces - one runs clockwise and the other (on the reverse side) anti-clockwise.

I came up with an explanation which was confirmed by an online search.

My immediate thought was the one that came up when I searched.

Spoiler

Clockwise matches sundial direction in whichever country thought up clockwise

 

[gomezz]

True but with a caveat

Spoiler

In the Southern Hemisphere sun dials go the other way round

 

[EEPhil]

A spoiler within a spoiler, now there's a novelty!

 

[prpr]

A spoiler within a spoiler, now there's a novelty!

Yes. Part of me wants to see whether you can nest them to 3 (or more) levels...