Who knows what this is? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 11:17:39 am
content: Here's an interesting bit of Australian tech-history. I first saw it a while ago, and today went back and took a photo.Before I say what and where it is, does anyone recognize it?

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 11:24:03 am
content: Speaking clock?Yeap. Pretty sure it's a speaking clock. The glass discs hold the sound recordings."At the beep the sound will be twelve, twenty seven and fifty seconds..."There used to be one in the science museum here in London.http://www.britishtelephones.com/clocks/spkgclock.htmYou are athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Telecommunications_Museum?

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 11:40:16 am
content: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/time-please-2

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 11:52:43 am
content: And it always worked, better than NTP

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 12:06:42 pm
content: You got it!This is the original PMG talking clock, at the Telstra Museum on 12 Kitchener Parade, Bankstown.It still runs perfectly, and they are happy to demonstrate it.The museum is a fascinating place. Saw my first wire recorder today. It works too, and they demonstrate it with a wire reel from hmm, I forget. Around 1950? The sound quality is excellent, which was a surprise to me. I'd like to see tape last that long.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 12:14:17 pm
content: "Here's an interesting bit of Australian tech-history."Made in England"This is one (number 2) of the four Mark II machines produced in England for use in Australia"... I wonder what modifications they had to make for down-under?"From January 2003 to March 2006 there was a period of "uncertainty" during which the 1194 service was provided by a third party and the service was inconsistent. There were occasions when the spoken time was pretty good (i.e. within 0.1 sec), but other occasions when the systems drifted away by anything up to 5 or 10 or 20 seconds. This lack of reliability made the service unusable."

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 12:22:58 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on August 01, 2017, 12:14:17 pmAt least another voice, no way the Aussies will tolerate a stiff upper lip english voice.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 12:34:12 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on August 01, 2017, 12:22:58 pmA local accent would be nice but I doubt it. The Brits tended to standardise on received pronunciation for official voice recordings, especially if they were distributed around the empire.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 12:37:07 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on August 01, 2017, 11:24:03 amThere certainly was one last year, fascinating machine.Did you spot the Cesium standard though?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 12:42:38 pm
content: It is labeled: "robotic equipment"

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 05:08:33 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on August 01, 2017, 12:14:17 pmWell, obviously they had to make it so it spun in the opposite direction. Coriolis effect and all that in the southern hemisphere...-Pat

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 08:05:00 pm
content: Looks good.What's the speaking clock like nowadays? I used to use it till about 9 or 10 years ago when I started using the pips on Radio 4 instead. You have to pay to call the speaking clock, but the pips are free.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 09:33:23 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on August 01, 2017, 12:14:17 pmTurn them upside down ?And in the toolkit replace the standard size with a bigger knife.

author: MarkS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2017, 10:47:40 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on August 01, 2017, 12:14:17 pmSpecial mounting brackets had to be installed to keep it from falling off the planet.