Which giant illuminated ball was first used in New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve countdown in 1907?

The giant illuminated ball first used in New York City's Times Square countdown in 1907 was the Times Square Ball.

The inaugural ball descended on December 31, 1907, at the headquarters of the New York Times in Longacre Square, which had been renamed Times Square in 1904. The newspaper's publisher, Adolph Ochs, wanted a dramatic public celebration to mark the new year and draw attention to the paper's prominent building.

That first ball was about five feet in diameter, weighed roughly 700 pounds, and was made of iron and wood with 100 light bulbs. The design has been replaced and enlarged several times. Modern balls use illuminated crystal panels and computer-controlled LED lighting, but they preserve the basic idea of a descending time ball.

The ball did not descend every year: wartime blackout restrictions suspended the display in 1942 and 1943. During those years, the crowd observed a moment of silence followed by church bells. The tradition resumed in 1944.