|
General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
27th Feb 2020, 1:47 am | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 682
|
GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
I recently acquired a few Gents clock items but one item that I find most interesting is what appears to be a wiring diagram for a fairly complex clock and bell system for the County Council building in The West Riding Of Yorkshire.
I assume it’s a copy and the original retained by Gents . It appears to have impulse clocks of 1second , 30seconds and a bell system. I also have instruction sheets for the C69 programer. The programer according to the diagram supplied 26 bells and 26 sirens. I thought I would post a few pictures in the unlikely chance someone would be familiar with this building or know more about these diagrams . I assume they were common for most installations but I doubt many survive. The diagram is faded so I photographed it in black and white. Andy |
27th Feb 2020, 2:06 am | #2 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
I know little about it but the former West Riding County Hall is in Wakefield. The attached photo might jog someone's memory.
Alan |
27th Feb 2020, 10:30 am | #3 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 2,510
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Very interesting, I'm glad you've preserved the diagram.
Andy |
27th Feb 2020, 11:07 am | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Do the documents actually specify the building to which they relate? Adminstratively speaking the council would have had overarching responsibility for a wide variety of civic buildings across the West Riding.
Alan |
27th Feb 2020, 12:18 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 682
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Alan that’s a good point,it could be for another building. There is no indication on the drawing that it is for another building.
The photo you posted looks an impressive building but at the same time someone has written 26 bells , 26 sirens on the drawing. I would think it strange to have two different types of sounder so maybe it should say one or the other? sounds a lot unless the building was massive. Andy |
27th Feb 2020, 12:35 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Wakefield is a small city despite having the regional administration as was. All gone now of course. More likely would be Leeds town hall, or less likely Bradford.
|
27th Feb 2020, 1:06 pm | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 2,510
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
A school is more likely to have lots of bells?
Andy |
27th Feb 2020, 2:03 pm | #8 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
A school would be my best guess too whereby the bells would have been used to signal routine lesson changeovers and the sirens emergency evacuation.
Here's another shot of the County Hall illustrating what an impressive and large building it is. Opened in 1898 and refurbished in 1991 it is now primarily an events venue for conferences, weddings etc. Alan |
27th Feb 2020, 2:43 pm | #9 | |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Quote:
Well off topic I know but hope it will be of some interest. Alan |
|
27th Feb 2020, 7:16 pm | #10 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
It looks like some of the dials have seconds hands, this would require a second pulse.
|
27th Feb 2020, 8:15 pm | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 2,510
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
The original post says that the system has some 1 second clocks. Many Gents master clocks were fitted with a set of one-second contacts, operated directly by the pendulum, I have a couple.
It would be good to see a better hi-res copy of the diagram if possible. Andy |
28th Feb 2020, 12:13 pm | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 682
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Thanks for your thoughts on this .
I don’t have a better way of showing pictures but I got a couple close ups.Again changed to black and white . The master clock does have the extra 1sec contacts . It then feeds a polarity change realy to supply the 1sec clocks . Andy |
28th Feb 2020, 10:04 pm | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Isle of Wight, UK.
Posts: 546
|
Re: GENTS Master clock System for the County Council
Nice to have the diagrams, they refer to the later C400a slave movements which require an alternate polarity impulse, the earlier seconds models were the normal ratchet and pawl arrangement which was very noisy in operation.
I remember back in the 80s the Southampton Institute of Higher Education had a combined Gent system with some classrooms being fitted with two clocks, one on the 30sec circuit and one on the 1sec circuit, never really knew why? The master clock was in the foyer and fascinated me back in the day, who knew I would own such things during the following decades. I would imagine the system in SIOHE is long gone now. Rob Last edited by Robsradio; 28th Feb 2020 at 10:11 pm. |