# Were time bombs ever fasioned like their depiction in old cartoons?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 13, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146 "2005-04-13T16:47:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/1 "2005-04-13T16:47:40Z")
In many cartoons, a time bomb was often depicted as a bundle of dynamite wired to an alarm clock. I’m not quite sure how exactly this was supposed to work, and seems more of an artistic explanation of “this is a time bomb” than a practical way to make one.
I’m guessing such a device could be rigged to the mechanics of the clock itself. Were time bombs ever built like this in real life?
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/2 "2005-04-13T16:53:55Z")
I Am Not A Mad Bomber.
I don’t know if bombs were ever actually built that way, but the concept is elegant in its simplicity. Without going into “how to make a bomb” detail, let’s just say the action of the clapper hitting the bell can close a circuit.
The major problem is making sure the clapper doesn’t come in contact with the bell before hand.
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### Author:  [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/3 "2005-04-13T16:57:41Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_bomb) suggests that an alarm clock is a suitable device to use to trigger an explosion though I imagine more elegant devices could be created using a digital clock to trigger the bomb. One problem with an alarm clock (in my imagination) is that it can only be set to explode a maximum of 24 hours from the time it is deployed. A digital timer could be set to trigger the bomb months from the time it is set, giving you ample time to scarper and any memory of you being in the area (and any CCTV recordings) being lost.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/4 "2005-04-13T17:08:29Z")
Stop by any survivalist-type place and you’ll find a copy of _Improvised Munitions_ printed by the US Government. In it, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to build a time bomb using an alarm clock and directions on how to use a wristwatch to make on as well. There’s actually a variety of methods by which you can use them, but judging from the fact that it’s a gov’t publication, I’d say that they actually were made that way.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/5 "2005-04-13T17:43:43Z")
> [@mittu](#):
>
> [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_bomb) suggests that an alarm clock is a suitable device to use to trigger an explosion though I imagine more elegant devices could be created using a digital clock to trigger the bomb. One problem with an alarm clock (in my imagination) is that it can only be set to explode a maximum of 24 hours from the time it is deployed. A digital timer could be set to trigger the bomb months from the time it is set, giving you ample time to scarper and any memory of you being in the area (and any CCTV recordings) being lost.
Logic error.
With a mechanical alarm clock of the kind described, 12 hours is the max elapsed time.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/6 "2005-04-13T17:51:33Z")
From what I remember you have to get a clock with metal hands and electrify them, and you put a screw in the face of the clock somewhere which is connected to the dynamite via wire, somewhere were the minute or hour hand will touch it eventually. When the minute or hour hand touches the screw it completes the circuit and ignites the explosives.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/7 "2005-04-13T17:55:58Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#):
>
> From what I remember you have to get a clock with metal hands and electrify them, and you put a screw in the face of the clock somewhere which is connected to the dynamite via wire, somewhere were the minute or hour hand will touch it eventually. When the minute or hour hand touches the screw it completes the circuit and ignites the explosives.
You…sound like a man who knows whereof he speaks, **Wes**.
You do recall that we’re pals, don’t you?
And, that loud noises _bother_ me?
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/8 "2005-04-13T18:09:26Z")
And, the old classic “bomb” which is black, round, with a fuze sticking out one end, did in fact- exist and was a common item used before the 20th century.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/9 "2005-04-13T18:27:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> And, the old classic “bomb” which is black, round, with a fuze sticking out one end, did in fact- exist and was a common item used before the 20th century.
Also known as a [grenade](http://www.big-ordnance.com/grenades/grenades1.htm).
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/10 "2005-04-13T18:59:49Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#):
>
> Also known as a [grenade](http://www.big-ordnance.com/grenades/grenades1.htm).
In addition to being lobbed, they would also be fired from howitzers. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) says that they’d be called “grenades” in either capacity, but I thought I’d mention it.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/11 "2005-04-13T19:50:47Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#):
>
> You…sound like a man who knows whereof he speaks, **Wes**.
>
> You do recall that we’re pals, don’t you?
> And, that loud noises _bother_ me?
I don’t recall that, I just recall that on May 3rd, 2004 at 3:42pm you insulted me in a thread that shall remain nameless and that the anniversary of that date is coming up.
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### Author:  [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/12 "2005-04-13T19:55:14Z")
IIRC, the reason the round black bomb with the fuze sticking out became the classic depiction is because the bombs used by 19th Century Anarchists and their ilk looked like this.
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### Author:  [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/13 "2005-04-13T20:40:36Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#):
>
> I don’t recall that, I just recall that on May 3rd, 2004 at 3:42pm you insulted me in a thread that shall remain nameless and that the anniversary of that date is coming up.
Oddly enough, I was looking at this post at exactly 3:42 PM.
I was thinking my eyes were playing tricks…
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### Author:  [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/14 "2005-04-13T20:42:06Z")
Hmm. My computer’s clock is not in sync with The Doper Clock. Nonetheless…
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### Author:  [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/15 "2005-04-14T01:47:17Z")
What makes me kind of laugh is the idea in the movies that “time bombs” will tick, as if any mad bomber who isn’t totally stupid wouldn’t use something that doesn’t make noise.
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### Author:  [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/16 "2005-04-14T03:23:42Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#):
>
> Also known as a [grenade](http://www.big-ordnance.com/grenades/grenades1.htm).
And the fuze was of a type that burned at a known rate. The fuze usually had marks on it for time in seconds or other convenient division. It would be stuck in and lighted at a length of the estimated time of flight on the first shot. Then the effect would be observed and corrections in trajectory and fuze timing made from there as is the case with artillery even today.
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### Author:  [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/17 "2005-04-14T10:32:33Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#):
>
> Logic error.
>
> With a mechanical alarm clock of the kind described, 12 hours is the max elapsed time.
For some reason I was under the impression that old mechanical alarm clocks had a button of some sort on the back similar to an AM/PM function on digital alarm clocks that would cause the alarm to go off 12 hours later. Apologies if I was mistaken, it has been known to happen 🙂
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### Author:  [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/18 "2005-04-14T17:23:43Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#):
>
> Also known as a [grenade](http://www.big-ordnance.com/grenades/grenades1.htm).
So why did they always have BOMB written accross them? 😃
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### Author:  [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/19 "2005-04-14T17:28:05Z")
Education wasn’t so much in effect back in the day.
At least they didn’t put a “cut here to disarm” tag… 😉
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### Author:  [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-time-bombs-ever-fasioned-like-their-depiction-in-old-cartoons/299146/20 "2005-04-14T17:50:32Z")
> [@mittu](#):
>
> For some reason I was under the impression that old mechanical alarm clocks had a button of some sort on the back similar to an AM/PM function on digital alarm clocks that would cause the alarm to go off 12 hours later.
Some may have had such a feature, but none of those I’ve owned or seen have.