 Can you imagine getting up every day at 4 a.m.? The first mechanical alarm clock could only ring at 4 a.m. and it was invented by Levi Hutchins in 1787. It wasn't until 1876 that a wind-up alarm clock was made that could be set for any time. It's good that today we can not only choose the time, but also what melody we want to wake up with. And now you know.