Clocks and Time Sync

I find past technology and innovations fascinating. A lot of past technology provides the foundation for what we have now or has influenced it.

Self Winding Clocks

Background on Clocks from Self Winding Clock Company

Back in a time where the telegraph system was operational and time synchronization was important for people in a variety of activities the Self Winding Clock (SWC) was a thing.

The SWC winds the spring hourly using 3 Volts from batteries. This happens by a pair of solenoids and a chattering arm that ratches the spring tighter.

The SWC also has a second pair of solenoids used once per day at noon when telegraph signals stopped for the daily clock sync pusle. This is essentially the clocks listening to a master clock circuit/signal.

If the clock is within +/- 2 minutes of the hour when the time sync signal happens it will be electromechanically corrected to the hour. You actually will see the minute hand move!

The clock is mechanically locked out by a lever arm and can't sync if it is too far off from the hour mark when that sync signal happens.

Ever have a pendulum clock? It is a lesson in patience, precision, and minor adjustments of the pendulum weight to tune it faster or slower to keep time.