Was Ahmed's Clock/Bomb a Hoax?

Did Ahmed Mohamed invent a clock or create a hoax bomb. Turns out the clock is an old 1980's Radio Shack model. He simply mounted the parts in a metal box and claimed it as his own invention.

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[KipBurbank]

I took lots of stuff apart as a kid, and still do. I laughed out loud when I saw this. Kid didn't even have the brains to cut off the transformer and 110 volt cord and put in a 12 volt battery pack (it's a 12 volt operation clock). Potentially if one were to touch the business end of that kick down transformer, you would the shock of a life time.

[charlesvan]

The teachers should have been concerned with the shock hazard of a bare wire 110V input in a metal box.  Electronics hobbyists generally use a 12V DC power supply.  It's hazardous to have exposed high voltage wires.

[CHAS]

Don't forget that he set the alarm and plugged the clock in English class where the alarm went off.

[Artsartisan]

Ahmed's "clock" was invented by Micronta - a subsidiary of Radio Shack - Catalog Number 63 765. The clock is mid-to-late vintage electronics. The board on Ahmed's clock looks drawn. This is how low cost items such as clocks were designed in the past.

Today, budding engineers would receive some computer aided assistance. One learns to simulate designs before building them. One can simulate or lay out a board with a free app on a phone or tablet. Modern hobbyists would not bother with outdated design techniques. Note, there is silk screening on the board. An "M" logo, "C-94" (possibly a part number - "C" might stand for "clock") A hobbyist wouldn't silk screen logos and part numbers on a home made creation. 14 year old Ahmed is not the inventor of this clock. The supposed invention of this boy is in fact NOT an invention. There is nothing to indicate that the clock was even assembled by the child.

[heynewgirl]

good video. I believe I heard in the interview that the science teacher said to not keep taking it out cause it looked questionable. you the nail on the head when you said he just kept trying to find a reaction. that was my exact thought. did you see his tweet where he was going to visit his lawyer? thanks for the video, have a great weekend

[ThEpicGamer]

Thanks for the video, Tim. I can't believe how much attention this kid and his family got. Unbelievable.

[circusOFprecision]

You took all the words right out of my mouth, excellent synopsis.

[janeish]

I have just found out that the clock actually counted down, just like a bomb would..
also some experts in this field have said that all it needed to be a bomb was explosives and a detonator...
I dont know if this is true, but I do belive that this was meant for a reaction/over reaction...
and it is so infuriating that the little plan worked..Ggggrrr
I like you video Tim, you speak with a gentle 'common sense' voice..
Jane x

[foghaze]

I will admit that I was wrong when I first heard this, before even seeing the "device". I was fooled. I stuck up for this boy. I admit I got caught up with my emotions but after looking at the evidence, watching his interviews and reading his comments I started to realize something was very wrong. I had to read and analyze everything with an open mind. Once I did this, I have many more questions and I want an investigation.

[suthinanahkist]

The clock contraption may not have been a bomb, but it certainly have easily been turned into one!

[whiskeyleaks]

I love how your talking about hoaxes with the shirt of the guys who invented it.

[Brianuyahoo]

Yep. At the end of the day, he's a fourteen year old boy.

[TyanColte]

Do me a favor, give me proof that he tried to pawn this creation off as his own invention. As far as I've read and heard he was just proud that he created something such as this. I used to take things apart all the time and try to fit them in other cases I was very proud of those moments when I succeeded and they worked. I've NEVER however, tried to pawn said creations off as my own inventions. I have also, more recently, made things that were my own inventions and I've been very proud of those as well. I attribute that to my ability to do the former. I too, wanted to show these creations off to others to establish some credibility and respect in their eyes that I am a tinkerer and enjoy messing around with things, pre-manufactured or not. I see, and have read in no uncertain terms that this kid, who was proud of his "creation", (note I used creation, not invention) was just that, proud of what he had created and wanted other people to see it. I give him tons of geek cred just for that.

As for the reaction comment, that he was going teacher to teacher to get a negative or suspicious reaction. OF COURSE he was looking for a reaction, but the reaction he was looking for isn't what you think, he was looking for a positive reaction. He's a new kid and obviously wanted somebody to give him credit for something that he created. His science teacher said and I quote "That's nice but don't show it to anybody" That would devastate me. I would keep also keep going to different people trying to get a positive reaction for something that I was proud of creating.

For the record I'm making a very clear distinction between the words "Creation" and "Invention". "Creation" implies that it was something that he or I or anyone created. That is a very broad brush that covers many facets including taking apart something that was already manufactured and placing the known working parts into a non-standard casing. "Invention" implies that the device was thought up by and put together piece by piece by somebody. Such as if somebody took an arduino and fashioned a clock using it and a digit display on a breadboard. It's obvious to anyone with the slightest bit of technical or engineering knowledge that this clock was "created" with parts from a known working, pre-manufactured, off-the-shelf device. I stand by the fact that he was just proud of his "creation". I for one am proud of him for attempting and succeeding in his creation and challenge anyone who isn't to do something similar and see how it works out.

I will say this much. I very well could be wrong, and if it turns out to be that way then this post is null and void. But to me at this point in the whole thing. He seems to be a kid after my own heart. I think he should keep it up and keep trying, he'll eventually make something that he can call his own "Invention".

[greg]

If I understand you correctly, what you're saying is that IT WAS A CLOCK.

[Shroommduke]

You don't have to be a freaking engineer to see what it is it's bullshit!

BUT I think they overreacted instead of telling him why it was in bad taste!

Looks like a TV Bomb, ...I wonder if he's a Jack Bauer fan!

I am embarrassed that people at Google was taken in by this story.

[patriciuss]

That's it!  making claims of a hoax hoax with only a single photo of a 1980's clock that shows NONE of the internal components?  You may be right, but that does not make your argument valid or even persuasive.

[solath]

I'm curious where you got the info that he designed and built a clock? It seems to me you are no better than the media you are whining about.