The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-05-14
TIME BALL IS
AN OLD STORY

THAT Item In the Advertiser the
other day about time ball" said
James w Robertson to a reporter for
this paper yesterday, takes me back
about twenty-five years to the time
when / 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 postofiice, 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 a story that is
worth while, for he ranks next to the
Hall of Archives in the extent of
knowledge of affairs concerning the
old days.
During a conversation with Curtis
j. Lyons one day about twenty-five
years ago" continued the major. "it
was suggested that / rig a time ball
and operate 1t on the top of the build
ing which / occupied at the time. The
chant street you will notice on the
top of the Hale structure having the
appearance of u tower. Beside that
there were two poles. one with flags
and the other with a set of semaphore
signals. 1t 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 1t 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 pliable wire which led to the tele-
phone in Mr.. Lyons office. About ten
minutes before twelve 1 went and
make the connection between the ball
and the catch and Ave minutes later
l raised 1t 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 Zine
was busy"
The Major Robertson told how he
held the wire in one hand and tele-
phone receiver in the other and when
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 Goth, 1885,
"Messrs. j. w. Robertson & Co. have
arranged 'time-bal on the signal
pole surmounting 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 dame
ter, painted black with an equatorial
band of white. 1t is raised to the top
of the pole at 1155 a. m. and at ~ m.
a catch is released and the ball falls
distance of ten feet on to thick
rubber buffer The apparatus works
very well and will furnish a convent
ent means OF ascertaining the correct
time.
1.-THE fall on Thursday was preceded
whistles. Number / sounding at 1857;
number at 11:5S, and number 3 at
IL 5S 1-2 a. m.
"The rumor to the effect that this Is
tied" ball. was dissipated by its be-
ing united yesterday"
Hawaiian Gazette, January Gath, 1888:
"Messrs. ]. w. Robertson & Co. have
arranged a method by which the gen.
eral public can now bn Informed nf the
exact hour of noon. A pole with
movable ball has been placed on the
old observatory on their building, and
the ball Is hoisted into position a few
minutes before the noon hour. OBJ
servations at the Survey Office estab-
lish the correct time, which Is tele-
phoned to Messrs. Robertson & Co.
and the ball Is dropped. a handy and
useful noon mark, and shows the pro-
gressive spirit of the projectors"