[time-nuts] Re: Where do people get the time?

[B Riches]

 I have had one of those Western Union clocks for 30 years and it is still working.  Originally powered by 2 # 6 dry cells that ran the clock for years.  Now powered by 2 D cells that run  it for a year.
To reset the time WU would stop all traffic on their wire from 1159 to 1201 and at 1200 send a hundred  volts down the wire for a few seconds.  That would activate a solenoid that would reset the hour hand to noon.
When WU decided they did not want to be in the time business they told their customers they could keep the clocks.  That afternoon many clocks walked out of the offices! 
Everything you wanted to know about Self Winding Clock Company can be found in "American Clocks Volume 2" by Tran Duy Ly starting on Page 177.
I have a copy of instructions for Model F from the Self Winding Clock Co Engineering Department that I can send to any one that is interested.  My clock was restored by Ken's Clock shop who specializes in these clocks.
73,
Bill, WA2DVUCape May, NJ


    On Monday, December 27, 2021, 07:02:09 AM EST, Thomas D. Erb <tde at electrictime.com> wrote:  
 
 years ago I was out a large clock installation in NYC - written on the wall was a note - before noon tune to a specific shortwave frequency to listen to the noon type signal.

Western Union used to distribute time over their telegraph network for a small fee - in connection with the Self Winding Clock Company

The power company (still does) keeps  line frequency accurate to a time standard.  Henry Warren got this standardized - I believe Tesla proposed it.

Cell phone towers all have GPS receivers - there are ways to get time off them.

We now use GPS receivers everywhere you can get a nmea sentences that has UTC time.


Thomas D. Erb
p:Â  Â  Â  Â  508-359-4396
f:Â  Â  Â  Â  508-359-4482
a:Â  Â  Â  Â  97 West Street, Medfield, MA 02052 USA
e:Â  Â  Â  Â  tde at electrictime.com
w:Â  Â  Â  Â  www.electrictime.com
Tower & Street Clocks Since 1928

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