[time-nuts] How did they distribute time in the old days?

Brian Inglis Brian.Inglis at SystematicSw.ab.ca
Mon Oct 19 16:00:47 EDT 2015


On 2015-10-15 08:32, Tom Van Baak wrote:
> Nick Sayer writes:
>> The WU standard time service goes back further than the turn of the 20th century. It started in 1870.

> Also, for a screen full of irresistible SWCC photos, try this:
> https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=self-winding+clock+company
>
>> My understanding (perhaps incorrect) was that the sync pulse was once daily and, as you said,
>> would cause the hands to “snap” to 12. The trailing edge of the pulse was synchronized and would
>> release the clock to operate normally.
>>
>> That they had something as accurate and widespread as it was so early is astonishing.
>
> Oh, Padawan, that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the deep and fascinating history of precise timekeeping.

Recently restored (after a building fire where some were lost) to working
19 Art Nouveau master/slave clocks from 1910:
http://www.gsaarchives.net/2013/04/mackintosh-clocks-feature-on-bbc-news/
more pictures in linked articles from BBC
-- 
Take care. Thanks, Brian Inglis


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