alt Hacker NewsThe Clacks is a copy of an optical telegraph system that was used in Sweden
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Niclas_Edelcrantz
Also UK used a system close to that. And a lot of countries along Europe developed their networks with different signaling devices.
Sorry; it's more likely they were named in tribute to the Chappe telegraph towers of France.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappe_telegraph
The stations were more elaborate and there is even a recorded instance of a secret signal being passed on illicitly:
https://blog.franceinfo.fr/deja-vu/2017/10/10/le-piratage-du...