New-York tribune., 1909-03-07
LoNDoN's OFFICIAL T1MEKEEPER
a Woman Holds the PIace-Curious Business
Started Seventy Years Ago.

O. TIE many unusual occupations followed BY
women probably the most curious and by no
means the least Interesting is that of the official
tirnekeeper Of London, to whom practically every
big watch and clock maker in the metropolis pays
q fee once week to learn the correct time says
''Tit-Bits
What is more said Miss BelleviIle the woman
IN question. recently. my father and mother be-
fore earned Z very good income by providing
London with the correct time. AS matter Of
fact my curious little business originated some sew
enty years ago. IN those days It was extremely
difficult 40 obtain the exact time in London. The
principal watch and clock makers had nothing to
guide them II they sent TO the Greenwich OBJ
servatoTy there was outside clock, and the de-
paEtTneEt Of course, did not exist for the purpose
Of supplying watchmakers with the time.
Ultimately Mr.. Pond, the astronomer royal Of
The period vas approached and asked If anything
could be done BY father. John Henry Beileville
was Al that time chief assistant Of the astronomer
royal, and also a ward Of his and Mr. Pond sug-
gested 10 him that on certain days my father
should take around the right time TO London firms
BY means Of corrected chronometer.
This my father did. the firms paying him
proved 50 successfai that. at the time Of his death
ne was drawing an income from this source of be-
tween f4e0 and 800 a year. after his death my
mother granted the privilege Of having her
chronometer corrected at Greenwich whenever she
Iezsea IA order that she might carry on the busi-
asss 5s OF timekeeper. and when she gave it up in
~ took her place. ard have carried the bust
IsS ever since with TIE permission OF Sir William
christie, the present astronomer royal"
1keiy Monday morning Miss BelleTe goes from
Maidenhead, where she resides, to the Observatory
a Greenwich and is there given official docu-
Eient saying that her chronOmeter differs from
mean Time BY so many second and tenths of
oAas- Such q favor is granted 10 other person.
shos armed with this exclusive credential, Miss
eAevile sallies forth 10 correct the tmepieces Of
London
ehe has about forty customers in the city, and
. eaen she repairs in turn and permits them TO
cHTFect their time in accordance with that of her
own chroaometcr and the Official document And
.isLn the forty customers wnom Miss Belleville
slElts Tor this purpose the London gets its
Itie sof the customers include such firms Dent's
-,ne makers OF Big Ben-Bcnsons, etc
20 sES Iit-I5its man Miss RelleVille showed the
S-tTTohoIaeter which enables her carry on her
Sllgoe business K is watch Of the ''turnip"
,SPe' ana Of very venerable appearance. Its his
aelg IS decidedly interesting.
II vas made said its owner. in 1885 by Arnold
fs. 10 oI tae most famous watchmakers that ever
.ssseu, ior the Duke os Sussex, Of George III
1as.tF possessing IL Z short time the noble owner
S.ssSSeroeo Il because tt too clumsy and my
..eeAer bought il at q fancy price. At that time
- eenFonoineteE had a gold case. but my father
Aeo IL replaced by silver one as he had TO visit
txeny London slums, and thought il would be safer
!. looked less imposing.
aS tny business still success. you ask? Oh,
s;s elherwlse should not carry it on. You see,
.Seitaoueh tfsra are some firms which have had
otsrt clocks electrically synchronized, there are
sisS Eho 90 not care for the idea. and are still
E1- 20 laVe the assistance OF my chronometer. ana
neglect to can they soon send for me-