Electric clocks

[Arran]

Mains powered clocks with an induction motor became popular in the 1930s but were still being made in the 1970s before battery powered quartz clocks replaced them. Smiths and Metamec appear to be the most common manufacturers. Mantlepiece and bedside clocks were more common in the 1930s but wall clocks were more common in the 1970s and tended to be used in commercial buildings more than homes.

The ubiquity of electric clocks in the mid 20th century resulted in the creation of a secure plug and socket combination, where the plug was held in place with a screw to prevent it from being casually pulled out, called a clock connector. They are still sold today although they are more commonly used with alarms rather than clocks.

[staffslad]

Re: Electric clocks

My uncle and aunt had a mains-powered electric clock on their lounge wall in the 70s and into the 80s. That is the on;y one I can recall seeing in a private house. It always impressed me when visiting them as we were still using mechanical wind-up clocks in our house. Actually, I think there is something rather comforting and reassuring in the ticking of a mechanical clock.

[tex]

Re: Electric clocks

Smiths were probably the best known and adorned many a school hall and factory wall, speaking of clocks reminds me of my dads wind up alarm clock it was called "Big ben" and not without good reason,the thing was deafening. My dad worked on the buses (his name was Stan....genuinely) and the big ben was set for 5 am but it would wake the whole house up (we were a family of eight)

[zabadak]

Re: Electric clocks

We had a wall-mounted Smiths "Sectric" in our living room. It was connected directly to the mains, not plugged in.

[Richard1978]

Re: Electric clocks

I remember my friend's house had one of those clock sockets on the wall, but no clock.

[staffslad]

Re: Electric clocks

We had a wall-mounted Smiths "Sectric" in our living room. It was connected directly to the mains, not plugged in.

I think my uncle's clock was also directly connected to the mains, rather than plugging into a wall socket. His doorbell chimes were similarly connected.

[George 1978]

Re: Electric clocks

I am sure that early 1980s Argos catalogues had them on their pages - and many classrooms at school had them as well.

[CrystalBall]

Re: Electric clocks

Back in the 1970s we had a Smiths Sectric wall clock in the kitchen, two Smiths alarm clocks and a Kienzle wooden wall clock in the lounge - all mains-powered. The Smiths Sectric and the Kienzle lasted from when my parents were married (1963) until the mid-1980s! The Smiths alarm clocks were not very good though.

[Arran]

Re: Electric clocks

Impulse clock systems are probably the most interesting electric clocks. They consist of a master clock, which is a machine that produces high accuracy electric pulses, and a number of clock faces which accept the pulses and display the time. Some systems produced pulses every second but others every minute. Clock faces were originally analogue but digital displays also exist. Impulse clock systems were rarely used in homes but were common in offices, schools, train stations, and other locations where many clock faces were used. Master clocks could also control timed bells or time stamping machines as well as clock faces.

The most prominent British manufacturer of impulse clock systems was Gent.

http://www.aeolian-hall.myzen.co.uk/clocks.htm

[tex]

Re: Electric clocks

[QUOTE=Arran;229570]Impulse clock systems are probably the most interesting electric clocks. They consist of a master clock, which is a machine that produces high accuracy electric pulses, and a number of clock faces which accept the pulses and display the time. Some systems produced pulses every second but others every minute. Clock faces were originally analogue but digital displays also exist. Impulse clock systems were rarely used in homes but were common in offices, schools, train stations, and other locations where many clock faces were used. Master clocks could also control timed bells or time stamping machines as well as clock faces.

The most prominent British manufacturer of impulse clock systems was Gent.

http://www.aeolian-hall.myzen.co.uk/clocks.htm[/
We certainly found our expert on all things clocks, i bow to your knowledge Arran.

[sesarob]

Clock faces were originally analogue but digital displays also exist. Impulse clock systems were rarely used in homes but were common in offices, schools, train stations, and other locations where many clock faces were used. Master clocks could also control timed bells or time stamping machines as well as clock faces.

[beccabear67]

I remember my parents getting a new bedside clock that looked kind of like digital but it was tiles with half numbers on them flipping down over and over. It would make a flapping sound every minute, and the more tiles that flapped over at once the louder. I'm glad I didn't have one like it because it's flapping would remind me of the passage of time if I was having trouble getting to sleep! I did have a wind up alarm clock (with Cookie Monster from Sesame Street on it) that I hated the loud ring on so refused to keep it wound. What an awful way to get woken up, and as likely to wake others. I ended up buying a digital plug-in with a radio with my own money so I could wake up to music or at least a DJ (I had an early morning papers round).

[sesarob]

What an awful way to get woken up, and as likely to wake others. I ended up buying a digital plug-in with a radio with my own money so I could wake up to music or at least a DJ (I had an early morning papers round).
Encryptobiography

[minilandrover]

Hi I had a great electric clock, that I sold for a lot of money but still miss its wonderfull display, called a spinner clock.
Now thats an ELECTRIC CLOCK !

[DeborahMoore]

I am interested in what do you prefer? Digital clocks or classic watches. Those digital ones come with more features than their analog counterparts. Digital clocks provide superior readability during tense, time-sensitive scenarios, and some digital models can help people track the time with the help of a countdown timer. They can help to get students to their next classroom on time. That is why I vote for digital version.