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First Digital Clock

Discussion on Nixies, Jump Hours and all other digital watches, clocks and gadgets
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bucko170

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First Digital Clock

Post02 Oct 2013, 09:43

This one looks interesting...

flip clock.jpg


http://www.ebay.com/itm/151135210266;js ... 26_rdc%3D1
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bruce wegmann

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Re: First Digital Clock

Post02 Oct 2013, 21:59

Mechanical digital movements (even down to the size of a pocket watch) go back to the 1890s, or a bit earlier. Using numbered discs or wheels (in the fashion of an automobile odometer), they were often marvels of complexity, but never progressed much beyond the novelty stage, and never became popular with the general public. The one particularly interesting feature of this one is the alarm function...never seen that before.
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azimuth_pl

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Re: First Digital Clock

Post03 Oct 2013, 19:19

Nice clock using a very ordinary and basic wake-up alarm movement fitted to travel clocks.
Nevertheless the flip module on top is very cool.
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Re: First Digital Clock

Post11 Dec 2013, 17:09

I saw a piece written about these clocks, apparently they actually go back to the early 1800's, and were used as "Carriage clocks" Since they were portable, horse drawn carriages would use them for the driver, and passengers to know the time.

From wikipedia:

A carriage clock is a small, spring-driven clock, designed for travelling, developed in the early 19th century in France, where they were also known as "Officers' Clocks". The first carriage clock was invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet for the Emperor Napoleon in 1812. The case, usually plain or gilt-brass, is rectangular with a carrying handle and often set with glass or more rarely enamel or porcelain panels. A feature of carriage clocks is the platform escapement, sometimes visible through a glazed aperture on the top of the case. Carriage clocks use a balance and balance spring for timekeeping and replaced the larger pendulum bracket clock. The factory of Armand Couaillet, in Saint-Nicolas d'Aliermont (France) made thousand of carriage clocks between 1880 and 1920.


The Flip clocks are usually named "Plato" Link here: http://blog.onlineclock.net/history-of-digital-clocks-watches/

Some nice photos of them here:

Image

I like the blue in this 1903 version: Image
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azimuth_pl

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Re: First Digital Clock

Post12 Dec 2013, 01:09

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
Nowadays shrinks and lawyers would benefit from these by showing the customers when their time is up ;)
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bucko170

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Re: First Digital Clock

Post12 Dec 2013, 09:38

Nice 8-)

I agree the blue one is the nicer one, they remind me of the bottom half of a miners safety lamp (still in use today).

Miners Lamp.jpg
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