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You could buy time in London… until WW2 stopped the clock.

Omegafanman
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Nice story here from the BBC about how for over 100 years the Belville family sold time to a network of subscribers in London with a wonderful John Arnold pocket watch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn7gew9zxo


@neilfrancis will confirm you can still see the watch on display as it was donated to the clockmakers museum:-
https://www.ahsoc.org/blog/how-did-arnold-get-to-the-clockmakers-museum/

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b9c7b8c0-1a04-11ef-bdbd-6ffc82642627.jpg
Photo Gazette Herald US
 
jimmyjay
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I’m wondering if that man is a night watchman carrying a time recording device. If so, a key located at each stop of his nightly rounds was inserted into the device which recorded and documented his presence.
 
Archer
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jimmyjay jimmyjay
I’m wondering if that man is a night watchman carrying a time recording device. If so, a key located at each stop of his nightly rounds was inserted into the device which recorded and documented his presence.

Most likely...
 
ErichPryde
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jimmyjay jimmyjay
I’m wondering if that man is a night watchman carrying a time recording device. If so, a key located at each stop of his nightly rounds was inserted into the device which recorded and documented his presence.

Very cool, I learned something new today. You have more information on this?
 
Archer
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ErichPryde ErichPryde
Very cool, I learned something new today. You have more information on this?

This was very common at the time, and for decades after. On the security rounds, there would be keys at specific locations that the guard has to insert into his clock and turn - this would record the time and location of the guard. It was to confirm that the guard was actually making the rounds, and not sitting in a chair all night.

These devices eventually became electronic - not sure if they would use something different now but even 20 years ago this sort of thing was still common in various factories, etc.
 
jimmyjay
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Yes, still in use today but I can’t remember what the device is called. For optimum security each key could have a different cut and would be attached to the box by a chain.
 
ghce
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Omegafanman Omegafanman
Nice story here from the BBC about how for over 100 years the Belville family sold time to a network of subscribers in London with a wonderful John Arnold pocket watch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn7gew9zxo


@neilfrancis will confirm you can still see the watch on display as it was donated to the clockmakers museum:-
https://www.ahsoc.org/blog/how-did-arnold-get-to-the-clockmakers-museum/

.
b9c7b8c0-1a04-11ef-bdbd-6ffc82642627.jpg
Photo Gazette Herald US

Makes one proud to be British!
Life was a simpler time with less time pressure.
I used to work in a Post Office run institution (NZPO) and was always amused at the electrical impulse clock system used, very accurate and the PO was a stickler for time however I think I would have been happier with the antiquated system of buying time from such a fulsomely attractive time lady! A time when people's jobs and personal interactions were all out in public not stuck in some computer based app.
 
blufinz52
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The Detex Corporation made the devices used by night security guards.
 
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