[time-nuts] Re: Power line timing

[Adrian Godwin]

I don't think the clockwork backup idea died with that product. I've seen
common timeswitches (the type used to control streetlights, where it wasn't
done centrally) with a clockwork mechanism would by a motor, though I don't
think it was such an exotic mechanism as the one you describe.  You can
imagine the effort needed to reset streetlight clocks if a power cut put
them all a few hours out of sync. These were made by Sangamo-Weston so
presumably a descendant of the one you describe.


On Mon, Mar 25, 2024 at 11:42 AM Mahlon Haunschild via time-nuts <
time-nuts at lists.febo.com> wrote:

> Tangent alert:  this brings to mind a recent find at an antique store; a
> variety of clock I had never heard of before.
>
> One hundred years ago the idea of power line frequency control wasn't very
> important.  In many cases, people were lucky to have electric power at
> all.  But there was still a demand for a clock that one didn't have to wind
> in some way but, nevertheless, kept accurate time.
>
> The relatively-new Sangamo Electric Co. (run by Jacob Bunn Jr.) had a
> synchronous shaded-pole motor that was used as part of their
> demand-measuring watthour meter products, but they also had at that time
> the idea of an electric clock powered by that same synchronous motor.  To
> solve the problem of power frequency / quality / availability Jake Jr.
> apparently rang up his dad, Jacob Bunn Sr., who of course ran the Illinois
> Watch Co., looking for a solution.  The answer they came up with was a
> clock movement that used an Illinois 16s pocket watch escapement built into
> a platform,  with a mainspring that was continuously wound by the Sangamo
> motor through a reduction gear train.  When the mainspring reached a
> certain degree of winding strength, a small brake would act on the motor's
> gear train to stall it, preventing overwinding.  The mainspring had
> sufficient power to operate through a 24 hour power failure.
>
> The below clock is a model 5106 and is in my collection, awaiting cleaning
> and other restoration.  Along with the "Sangamo" logo on the dial you can
> also see the "Illinois" brand on the 11-jewel platform escapement, proudly
> displayed through a small (quarter-sized) round window in the dial.
> Internally it is of the highest quality, with gold-plated gears, damascened
> plates, etc. even though these details were never seen by the owners.  The
> clocks were only made for roughly six years or so, and were as accurate as
> a railroad pocket watch (more so, since they didn't move around and were
> under constant winding tension).  They were also expensive.  My clock was
> $60 in 1926, which would be $1050.00 today.
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/ev5KmUbrrcsTAfCv7
>
> Best regards
>
> Mahlon - N4ZK
>
> On Sun, Mar 24, 2024, 6:04 AM Thomas D. Erb via time-nuts <
> time-nuts at lists.febo.com> wrote:
>
> > Some old Warren Master Clocks from our collection.
> >
> >
> https://electricclock.omeka.net/exhibits/show/warren-master-clocks/warren-master-clocks
> >
> > BTW - in the 1970's and 1980's we used to make a faux version of one of
> > these for some small power grids - it consisted of a small quartz (I
> think
> > GE) wall clock and a AC mains clock - the power grid operator would just
> > synch them up.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thomas D. Erb
> > p:        508-359-4396
> > f:        508-359-4482
> > a:        97 West Street, Medfield, MA 02052 USA
> > e:         tde at electrictime.com
> > w:        www.electrictime.com
> > Tower & Street Clocks Since 1928
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
> > To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave at lists.febo.com
> >
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
> To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave at lists.febo.com