Hi Bill:
Here are a couple of web pages on the Western Union clocks made by the Self
Winding Clock Co:
https://prc68.com/I/SWCC.shtml
https://prc68.com/I/SWCC2.shtml
I think it was more like 200 Volts and it's important because the time constant of an L - R circuit is L/R, so by adding
a series resistor the loop time constant can be very much shortened. A common mistake is using a low voltage which
makes the action very sluggish, sometimes to the point of not working.
--
Have Fun,
Brooke Clarke
https://www.PRC68.com
axioms:
1. The extent to which you can fix or improve something will be limited by how
well you understand how it works.
2. Everybody, with no exceptions, holds false beliefs.
-------- Original Message --------
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
<[email protected]> 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: 508-359-4396
f: 508-359-4482
a: 97 West Street, Medfield, MA 02052 USA
e: [email protected]
w: www.electrictime.com
Tower & Street Clocks Since 1928
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