Punch The Clock Day - January 27

Punching a clock is something I've wanted to do for a very long time. I thought I was alone, until I realized that sometime in history, enough people were punching time so much they made a formal holiday out of it.

January 27 is "Punch The Clock Day." Holiday Insights, describes Punch The Clock Day as the holiday that 'defied definition.' When researching the holiday I found its origins to be somewhat of a mystery. However, Punch The Clock Day is a real recognized holiday, none the less.

Clock punching began November 20, 1888 when a frustrated jeweler from Auburn, New York named Willard Bundy invented the first time clock to help his time keeper keep track of his employees time. The time clock utilized a card that accounted for time punched in, and time punched out. Punch The Clock meant both the employer and employee would have an accurate accounting and proof of time spent at work.

This was one of the earliest forms of computing, and the punch clock invention is still in use today. In fact, the Bundy Manufacturing Company evolved into what we know today as IBM. In 1958 the time clock division that started it all was sold, and then resold a few times over the next fifty years. To the best of my knowledge, it is currently part of Stanley Security Systems.

The punch clock was invented twenty some odd years after The Civil War, and by the turn of the century, the United States was becoming a world class industrial powerhouse. After the WWII, punching the clock became a way of life.

The video beautifully displays how a restored 1925 international clock records and calculates time. (My guess is that the clock needed restored after someone punched it out.)

In truth, one does not need to be a business owner to value the use of one's time. For example, it is a common practice of graphic artists, photographers, illustrators, writers, musicians, studios, and others, to bill their clients for their time. Back in the day, we hand wrote a slip that rested upon a sheet of carbon paper to keep record of the time spent on a project in order to bill it out. (I still know people who do it this way.) Guesstimating how much time it takes to do a job without keeping track of a project is like guesstimating how many calories you eat in a day without writing them down.

The punch clock was, and still is, one of the most used inventions of all time. For a self representing artist, it would take less time to time punch in the time spent on each project than it would to keep a hand written time log of what you are working on. One of the best ways to celebrate Punch The Clock Day on January 27 is to get a time clock for your studio or a Punch Card App for your smart phone.

After doing a little research, Popeye was found singing and punching a clock at the same time. Follow along with this merry little 1934 Max Fleicher classic video, and sing along with Popeye as he clocks out the time.

When thinking about Punch The Clock Day, the literal connotation comes to mind. Buster Keaton displays perfect timing.

Of all the holidays in the world, one was invented for clock punchers. It is difficult to tell if the inception of Punch The Clock Day was designed to be celebrated by creators of the time clock, or the users of it. One thing for sure, we all clock in at birth.

To celebrate Punch The Clock Day, one must remember all who were born on this day. A special Happy Birthday to my brother, and all who were born on January 27.

Celebrate Punch The Clock Day by having a Punch The Clock Party, and dedicated bringing together all friends and family who have or ever had to count time, punch time clocks. This is my own original recipe, and it is always good.

Ingredients: One Large Punch Bowl, Your Choice Of Cups, One Waterproof Clock, Your Favorite Punch Recipe

1. Get one large punch bowl and waterproof clock.

2. Place waterproof clock in the bottom of the punch bowl, time face up. (Amazon has a great clock with suction cups on the back of it. They have a great selection of punch bowls, too.)

3. Fill the punch bowl with your favorite beverage.

4. With cup in hand, go to the punch bowl filled with your favorite drink, dip in, and punch the clock.

5. It's that simple. Punch in. Punch out.

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The Vogues "It's A 5 O Clock World" song has long been the working man's march . Drew Carrey thought so, too, and made it the theme song of his long running television show. As a working girl, this is one of my favorite songs, too.

Your celebrating Punch The Clock Day with me here today is sincerely appreciated. Regardless of whether or not we time in, time out, or hit the snooze button, we all punch the clock one way or another on any given day.

The purpose of this page is to share information about this obscure national holiday for history and fun. For all who celebrate this holiday religiously, your input would be most welcome.