Brief History of Electrical Horology

These are just a few of the more significant milestones in the development of Electrical Horology.


1840 First practical electromagnetic clock, by Alexander Bain.
1864 Distribution of time to public clocks, by Magnetic Telegraph Co, Glasgow.
1881 Electric motor to wind clock spring, by Chester H. Ponds, (USA).
1906 Eureka, first successful balance wheel electric clock, by T. B. Powers (Patented by Kutnow Bros).
1918 Synchronous electric clock invented (A.C. mains powered), by Henry Ellis Warren (USA).
1927 Quartz crystal controlled clock invented (experimental design), by Warren A. Marrison.
1931 Synclock: one of the first domestic synchronous clocks for the UK (Warren motor, A.C. mains powered), by Everett, Edgcumbe & Co.
1933 Speaking clock: the first accurate fully automatic service, Paris.
1953 Transistor first used to electronically maintain a pendulum, by Leon Hâtot (France).
1955 Caesium atomic clock, by Louis Essen.
1957 Wrist watch with electrical contacts operated directly by balance wheel produced commercially, by Hamilton Watch Co (US).
1959 Accutron watch using an electronically maintained tuning fork as timing element, by Bulova.
1970 First LED display on a wrist watch.
1971 First LCD display on a wrist watch.
1972 First mass produced domestic quartz clock, by Staiger in Germany.

 

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