ECS - Survey of 1-second master clocks

(This is a mirror of the survey page on Martin Ridout's 'Electric Clock World' site.)

I am researching English Clock Systems Ltd one-second pendulum master clocks, and would greatly appreciate feedback from people who own, or know of, examples of these clocks.

The purpose of the research is to correlate design changes with serial numbers, and to try to establish how serial numbers relate to dates of manufacture.

Please enter the relevant information in the response boxes below, and then (while still 'on-line') press the Submit button at the end of the Form to send the information to me. If you own or know of more than one clock, please Submit a separate form for each clock.

The research will continue for some time, so information on any examples you spot in the future will be welcome.

Thank you for your help.
(All information supplied will be treated in strict confidence.)

The location of clocks is never requested by the survey - the only contact information required is an e-mail address.

Survey results as of November 2002 are now available for viewing.

But the survey continues......

If you have one of these clocks please submit details if you have not already done so.

The survey results are in 'pdf' format and require Acrobat Reader. Click to download the survey results.

(The results file size is about 900K.)

THE SURVEY:

There are differences in slave movements;

Early style slave with composition index wheel, not crossed out, and type number on front plate (behind wheel).

Later style slave with brass, crossed out index wheel, and type number on bridge plate.

There is also a 2, 3 or 4 digit number stamped into the rectangular brass front plate of many slave movements. It is visible at the top right of the right hand picture above. (N.B. It is not always in that position, and could be partly obscured by the armature). This is a date code, and should be quoted as 'Slave Date Code'.

The difference between single and double contact systems;

Double contact system.
Both contacts are on the pillar, with the rear contact mounted in an insulating bush; the moving arm (below) simply bridges the two fixed contacts to complete the circuit.
The Link from the rear contact to the baseplate is either a Brass L-plate as shown, or a flexible wire link.

Single contact system.
One contact is on the pillar, and the other contact is on the movable arm. The circuit is completed via the movable arm, with a flexible wire back to the base plate.

There are differences in the design of the impulse pallet, both in the shape of the pallet around the pendulum rod:


Type 1 - Curved around rod	Type 2 - Diamond shape around rod

and the profile of the slope down which the impulse roller runs.


Type A - Shallow curve	Type B - Steep curve

Please note that the thickness of material under the curved surface is not what I am asking about; it's the profile of the curved surface that is important. The two left-hand pictures above (Type 1 and Type A) have the same curve, despite a difference in the thickness of the brass below the curved plane.

Your Name

Your E-Mail Address

Your name and e-mail address will be kept confidential and you will only be contacted if a response on this form needs clarifying.

If you do not wish to include your name or e-mail address, your response will be anonymous, but still welcomed. It will, however, make further research of your clock impossible.

MASTER CLOCK

Serial Number: (include any prefix or suffix letters, e.g. 1021/S)

Case Style:
Square Top
Round Top

Gravity Arm Contacts:
Double Contact
Single Contact

If Double Contacts, is the link to the Baseplate:
Brass L-Plate
Wire Link

Impulse pallet shape around rod:
Type 1 - Curved round rod
Type 2 - Diamond shaped round rod

Impulse slope profile:
Type A - Shallow
Type B - Steep

Pendulum Lower Suspension Block:
Two-Piece Construction
One-Piece Construction

SLAVE DIAL

Dial Style:
Roman Numerals
Arabic Numerals

Dial Finish:
Silvered
Painted

Hands Style:
ECS Old Hand Style
ECS New Hand Style
ECS Intermediate Hand Style

Inscription on Dial:

Slave Index Wheel Style:
Composition
Brass

Crossed Out

Slave Type Number: (e.g. 205/19)

Location of Slave Type Number:
Front Plate
Bridge

Slave Date Code: 2, 3 or 4 digit number stamped on rectangular brass plate

GENERAL
Any Dating Evidence: (Records of original installation of clock; purchase invoices; hand-written notes on clock; etc)

Any other markings or inscriptions on the clock: (e.g. Maker's name/logo on some slaves or beat plate)

Do you have any printed material that may help to identify the development of the ECS Master Clock(e.g. catalogues, magazine articles)? If so, please describe briefly stating the source, including a date if relevant. I will contact you if cannot find a copy.

Any other comments: (Accuracy, reliability of clock)

To send the above information to me, ensure you are on-line to the Internet, and press the 'Submit Form' button.