The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-05-11
TIME BALL Is
AN OLD STORY
James w. Robertson Operated
One on Honolulu Hale,
Merchant Street.

That item in the Advertiser the
other day about a time ball., said
James ". Robertson to a reporter for
| this paper yesterday, takes me back
about twenty-five years to the time
when I was in business on Merchant
street"
Major Robertson was one of the best
known men in the Territory during the
monarchy and is as well known to ka-
maainas today He was a prosperous
| merchant occupying the building next
to the postoffice, known as Honolulu
Hale. Afterward he became vice
chamberlain to His Majesty, King Ka-
lakaua, and on the death of that mon
arch was promoted to the post of
chamberlain in the Queens official
family. To get him when in a remin-
iscent mood is to get story that is
worth while, for he ranks next 10 the
Hall of Archives in the extent of
knowledge of affairs concerning the
old days.
During a conversation with Curtis
u. Lyons one day about twenty five
years ago." continued the major, sit
was suggested that I rig a time ball
and operate it on the top of the build
ing which I occupied at the time. The
next time you are passing along Mer-
chant street you will notice on the
top of the Hale a structure having the
appearance of tower. Beside that
there were two poles, one with flags
and the other with set of semaphore
signals. It was arranged by US that
the ball should be made and placed
on one of the poles.
There was more trouble in getting
the thing rugged than there was in
making it but it was accomplished in
time and everything ready for the
moment when the signal came to let
go. There was an automatic catch and
to this was attached a strong piece
of pIiable wire which led to the tele-
phone in Mr. Lyons office. About ten
minutes before twelve I went and
make the connection between the ball
and the catch and five minutes later
I raised it to the top of the pole. Mr..
Lyons was then notified by telephone.
You may marvel at our plebeian meth
DDS but in those days you were not
often told by central that the line
was busy.
The Major Robertson told how he
held the wire in one hand and tele-
phone receiver in the other and when
a minute before twelve Mr.. Curtis
would signal ready and at twelve
sharp he called time and the ball
was released. There were not so many
tall buildings in Honolulu in those
days and the pole and ball could be
seen from all parts of the city. Sup
porting his claim of originality of the
system of signaling noon in this city
Major Robertson showed the following
extracts from the Gazette and Adver-
tiser at that time.
Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Jan
uary 20th, 1888:
siMessrs. J. w. Robertson & Co. have
arranged a 'time-ball' on the signal
pole surrounding the tower of their
building to be dropped each day at
noon precisely, by signal sent from the
survey department.
''The ball is twelve inches in diane
ter. painted black with an equatorial
band of white. 1t is raised to the top
of the pole at II: 55 a. m. and at u m.
a catch is released and the ball falls
a distance of ten feet on to q thick
rubber buffer. The apparatus works
very well and will furnish convent
ent means of ascertaining the correct
time.
THE fall on Thursday was preceded
by the blowing Of three factory
whistles Number 1 sounding at 11:54;
number at 11:5S, and number at
HISS IL a. m.
THE rumor to the effect that this Is
tied ball, was dissipated by its be-
ing united yesterday
Hawaiian Gazette, January 24th, 1888:
"Messrs. J. w. Robertson & Co nave
arranged a method by which the gem
eral public can now be Informed Of the
exact hour of noon. A pole with
movable ball has been placed on the
old observatory on their building, ana
the ball is hoisted into position a Few
minutes before the noon hour. CD
servations at the Survey Office estab-
fish the correct time. which is teie-
phoned to Messrs. Robertson & GO.
and the ball is dropped. handy ana
useful noon mark, and shows the pro-
gressive spirit of the projectors