Museum CCTV captures moment man breaks rare wooden clock by accidentally knocking it off wall

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

A Pennsylvania man had an awkward moment captured on CCTV when he chose to ignore the no-touching signs at a museum.

The man was visiting the National Watch and Clock Museum, and was admiring an elaborate wooden timepiece when his curiosity got the better of him.

In the video he is seen touching the clock before it falls off the wall and – despite his efforts to prevent disaster – several pieces come loose and tumble to the floor.

He tries in vain to reattach the artefact to the wall, before he and his partner decide instead to leave the scene instead, unaware the whole incident was caught on camera.

Museum staff posted the footage on their Instagram account, along with caption: “This is why we beg visitors not to touch museum object. #museumfail."

Museum director Noel Poirier told NBC Philadelphia: “Apparently this visitor really wanted to see this one run. For us, it's a learning opportunity for folks because there are reasons that museums ask folks not to touch things.

“There are people who touch things in museums regardless of what you do. Most times, it's adults. People think it's children, but it's really not.”

However, he also said this is the first time in his 10 years at the museum he can remember a visitor breaking something.

According to the website, Poirier said the clock’s creator James Borden donated the piece to the museum in 1994. He also said the damage to it is fixable, and so it should be back on display in a few months.