Special Clock Returns
For a long time before we began our restoration project the flow of artifacts (then considered junk) was out of the station into personal collections or, worse, the dump. But over years the flow has reversed and important items that may have been in storage for years are flowing back into our care where they can be restored and displayed.
A case in point is that of the self winding clock that once graced the wall of the point to point receive room at Point Reyes.
These self winding clocks are something special. Those of a certain age will remember seeing them everywhere - train stations, broadcast stations - anywhere that precise time was required. For synchronization they were connected to a special Western Union telegraph line. Every hour at the top of the hour a pulse was sent down the line that caused the clock to synchronize itself. The clock uses a pendulum movement that is wound using an internal step motor powered by a No. 6 dry cell.All in all, a spectacularelectromechanical device.
This particular clock was found surplus to the needs of the point to point operation. An employee intercepted it on the way to the dump and placed it on a shelf in his garage near the receive site. There it sat for many decades. Then the son of that employee contacted us and asked if we would like the clock back. Of course you know the immediate reply.
Having the clock was one thing - and an important step. But getting it to sing again was another matter. There are places that will restore these clocks but we could not bring ourselves to ship this precious artifact for fear of damage. So it sat on our shelf for a couple of years.
Now comes Stan Jaffe, a member of our group who has been instrumental in may important MRHS projects. As is often the case with talented people, it turns out that Stan has multiple talents. Among those is... clock restoration! Stan kindly stepped up and volunteered to take on the project of returning the self winding clock to service.
These self winding clocks have become quite collectible. So, believe it our not, it is possible to purchase not only a reproduction No. 6 dry cell to power the winding motor but also a device built into another replica No. 6 dry cell that provides the timing pulse which, sadly, Western Union no longer offers.
With these items in hand and with the application of his ample skills and much time, Stan returned the clock to full working order. It is now mounted on the wall in the KSM operating room. You must come and see it! Like us, you will probably want to stand beneath the clock to hear it wind itself and watch it synchronize itself at the top of the hour.Trulyamazing.And of course itkeeps perfect time.
Here's Stan looking justifiably happy and proud as the clock is placed on the wall of the operating room.
We want to share an amusing side story. When the clock returned to our hands it had with it a despicable door bell push button wrapped in gooey electrical tape, attached to the clock with a disreputable bit of zip cord. We deduced the following about this arrangement: The guys in the point to point receive room did not have access to the needed Western Union time pulse circuit. But they did of course have access to the time signals over the air (this is pre-WWV, mind). So when the clock needed setting they'd tune in a time signal, stroll over to the clock, and push the door bell button at the top of the hour!
The button
Stan confirmed this theory when he traced the wiring in the clock. We have kept the door bell button mounted next to the clock for historic authenticity, even though it is no longer connected.
For those who want to learn more about these magnificent clocks a very good source of information is Ken's Clock Clinic.That'swhere we got the reproduction No. 6 deycells.