Internet Horology Club 185
Very Old Wood Case Cincinnati Time Recorder

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9886029761/m/573101352

March 08, 2010, 11:37
Michael O'Brien
Very Old Wood Case Cincinnati Time Recorder
Hello All,

I picked this guy up recently and am trying to find out some history/what it may have been used for. Also looking for some technical advise on putting a new cord on it. I called CTR and they were no help and do not have a historical/archives department.

Any help would be appreciated
Mike


March 08, 2010, 11:37
Michael O'Brien
Top


March 08, 2010, 11:38
Michael O'Brien
Face


March 08, 2010, 11:39
Michael O'Brien
Metal face.


March 08, 2010, 11:39
Michael O'Brien
Side


March 08, 2010, 11:40
Michael O'Brien
Back


March 08, 2010, 14:16
Tom Brown
Michael

I am not a clock person so I may be wrong but the case looks very similar to a Western Union slave clock that was hooked to their telegraph lines so it could be set by the master clock. I think they were DC powered but again I am not a clock person, I have a couple of cases that held their clocks & while trying to find out more information on them & trying to find replacement movements I recall reading this.

Any chance of seeing the insides?

Tom
March 08, 2010, 14:20
Michael O'Brien
Tom,

If you look at the wood above the dial there a 2 screw that electric wires are attached to. I was affraid of unscrewing them and not putting them back on in the correct order.

It looks like the power is 110

Mike
March 08, 2010, 14:26
Mark Cross
http://www.sessions-station.co...Punctuality%20a.html

This photo (which I posted in the other thread regarding master clocks and setting watches) appears to be a much older version of yours. Notice where the wire comes into the top of the clock so that it could receive its timing signal.

Regard! Mark
March 08, 2010, 14:30
Michael O'Brien
Mark,

You are correct, if you look at the top of mine on the right hand side you can see the hardware for the connection.

Mike
March 08, 2010, 14:31
Tom Brown
Michael

Mark is correct, those wires are for the time signal. I will see if I can locate the information I found while researching the Western Union Clocks.

Tom
March 08, 2010, 14:56
Michael O'Brien
Inside 1


March 08, 2010, 14:56
Michael O'Brien
Inside 2


March 08, 2010, 14:57
Michael O'Brien
On off switch to the slave wires


March 08, 2010, 14:57
Michael O'Brien
Wires attached to from of clock.


March 08, 2010, 14:58
Michael O'Brien
Electrical into clock.


March 08, 2010, 14:59
Michael O'Brien
The regulator?


March 08, 2010, 14:59
Michael O'Brien
Wires to motor.


March 08, 2010, 14:59
Michael O'Brien
Movement.


March 08, 2010, 15:00
Michael O'Brien
Movement with a 6 inch ruler on it.


March 08, 2010, 15:01
Michael O'Brien
The coating on the wires is intact. How do I know which is positive and which is negative for reconnecting a power cord?
March 08, 2010, 16:26
Tom Brown
On the black box, are there any markings at the screw terminals? The black box appears to operate on 110 so I assume that is AC (alternating current), if so there is not a positive or negative on the input end. But it appears to be a transformer of some sorts, maybe converting the AC into DC, is that is the case then the output terminals will have a positive & negative terminal.

Wish I could tell you more but it hard to tell from the photo where all the wires run & exactly what they do.

Be very careful applying power to those old brittle insulated wires, you could fry something including yourself.

If there is more writing on the black box let me know.

Tom
March 08, 2010, 16:31
Tom Brown
Do you think the white cord leading in from the top is the AC line?

Also on the movement itself, is something missing where the four holes are near the center, or is that just a shadow from your flash, it looks like a square area where something was mounted.

Tom
March 08, 2010, 16:39
Michael O'Brien
I am torn. Should I leave it alone and just hang it on the wall not running? Or should I restore it into a working clock ie. get the motor rebuilt and replace all the old wires? What does everyone think?

Mike
March 08, 2010, 16:54
Michael O'Brien
Tom,

The motor is attached to the back of the movement (between case back and the back of the movement)at those 4 spots.
March 08, 2010, 16:55
Michael O'Brien
Yes the white cord is the ac line.
March 08, 2010, 16:56
Tom Brown
Mike

I like to have things running but that is just me. If you are not comfortable working with electricity I would suggest leave it alone or get someone that is. Wish we lived a little closer I wouldn't mind looking at it with you but if I remember those wood boxes are not light.

Tom
March 08, 2010, 17:04
Michael O'Brien
Tom,

I would say it is around 5 lbs. I found a place in AZ that sells replacement fabric coated wire. I think I am going to try and restore it with modern old looking wire. I am going to try to find a local person who can restore the motor and power pack (black box) for me. I just hate having a clock that cant keep time.

Mike
March 08, 2010, 17:07
Tom Brown
Mike

I sent you an email.

If anyone else wants to join in & correct me, I am not an expert in these things, I just like to tinker with stuff.

Tom
March 08, 2010, 17:12
Michael O'Brien
Got it Tom,

I sent you a response.

Mike
March 09, 2010, 01:42
Bill Carlson
Hi Mike,
I've got information on some of these type clocks that may help.

First, does it have a electric motor in between the plates to run the gears? The ones I'm looking at have pendulums and they are battery powered and set by Western Union as Tom has indicated.
I will find some information on the pendulum type an post it here for you. It may help. Yours may have run slave clocks.

This movement looks similar to yours. Maybe a different company. This one is a "Self Winding Co". But it is battery wound,




Bill Carlson
March 09, 2010, 01:44
Bill Carlson
This page is all you need to know about Western Union time setting station clocks.




Bill Carlson
March 09, 2010, 01:47
Tom Brown
Bill

Do you own any of those Western Union Clocks?

And thanks for that info.

Tom