Start Your Clock Business with Roman Numerals

[BobG]

You decide to start a business selling clocks.

http://www.sjs.net.au/pics/1/1962b.jpg

You decide Roman numerals make a clock look a lot more stylish and that all of the clocks you sell will use Roman numerals. In the interest of efficiency, you need a single mold that will create all of the numbers necessary for your clock. Each mold set can be cut however necessary (i.e group two I's or a single I, etc), but each numeral on the clock has to be a single piece (i.e. the XI has to be next to each other on the mold set). You can use more than one mold set for each clock, but every symbol on the mold sets used have to be used. If you have extra V's, extra I's, extra X's, then you're just wasting resources.

http://wallwinedecor.com/Images/wallclocks/Roman%20numeral%20xlarge%20wall%20clock.jpg

What should be the layout of each moldset (i.e. - what Roman numerals should be on each set) and how many sets are necessary for each clock.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6771743/2/istockphoto_6771743-classic-clock-roman-numerals.jpg

Oh, darn. I can't delete this and repost even immediately after posting. How did I wind up one level to high when I posted this?!

 

[Gokul43201]

Not sure I understand the question, but going with my best interpretation...

Spoiler

I I I V I I I X laid out inside an annular region so that the X is again followed by the I I I ... If that makes no sense, I probably didn't understand the question. But if it does, that would be an 8 symbol mold, and it assumes that IV is used to represent 4. There seem to be obvious issues with such a mold (outside the parameters of the puzzle), but that may again be because I'm misunderstanding the question.

 

[MotoH]

Use an acid etching machine. Have a computer print out the design and have it etched on a metal clock face.

Do I win?

 

[BobG]

Not sure I understand the question, but going with my best interpretation...

Spoiler

I I I V I I I X laid out inside an annular region so that the X is again followed by the I I I ... If that makes no sense, I probably didn't understand the question. But if it does, that would be an 8 symbol mold, and it assumes that IV is used to represent 4. There seem to be obvious issues with such a mold (outside the parameters of the puzzle), but that may again be because I'm misunderstanding the question.

Check the pictures of the clocks. This is the norm for clocks using Roman numerals. There's a reason for that norm.

 

[DaveC426913]

[Totally unrelated]
I saw a remarkable clock the other day. It did not have the "normal" (Louis XIV) clock configuration. My friends, who were present when I pointed it out, did not understand my remark.
[/Totally unrelated]

It's not easy being geek
But geek is what I am and I have to learn to live with it.

 

[dlgoff]

Is that why there's a IIII instead of a IV?

 

[DaveC426913]

Is that why there's a IIII instead of a IV?

That is the traditional design for Roman Numeral clocks, yes.

 

[BobG]

Spoiler

4 X's, 4 V's, and 20 I's. Means you need 4 identical molds to make one clock.

VIIIIIX

Slice each up as necessary to make the numerals for your clock (note that X and I look identical whether they're upside down or right side up).

 

[DaveC426913]

Cool.

 

[Gokul43201]

Boy, do I feel stupid for throwing in all those I's before the V.

 

[fuzzyfelt]

(Louis XIV)

And occurred prior to, too.

Is that geeky?

 

[Gokul43201]

[Totally unrelated]
I saw a remarkable clock the other day. It did not have the "normal" (Louis XIV) clock configuration. My friends, who were present when I pointed it out, did not understand my remark.
[/Totally unrelated]

Wasn't this one, was it?

http://www.visitingdc.com/images/big-ben-picture-2.jpg

I have now spent too much time on trivia ranging from the Roman spelling of Jupiter (or at least parts thereof) to the time of Lincoln's assassination.

 

[DaveC426913]

Wasn't this one, was it?

No. It was on someone's mantle.