Synchronous Systems This type system was developed by IBM in the late 1940s.

IBM sold their time division to the Simplex Time Recorder Company in 1958. The methods & clock mechanisms have remained basically unchanged, other than appearance and style over the years. Today, this same protocol is used by several manufacturers, including Latham, Dukane, Cincinnati and Standard Electric Time. Digital master clocks have replaced older mechanical types. All consist of a master clock and a number of secondary clocks in remote locations. These secondary clocks appear to run like an ordinary plug-in electric clock and run on their own synchronous electric motor and will maintain correct time unless there is an interruption in electric service, depending on the master clock only for the periodic synchronizing impulse. These clocks differ from the impulse type, which are electrically advanced each minute by the master clock. Impulse type clocks are usually called slave clocks since they cannot function at all without the master clock. There are two basic variations in synchronous systems, wired and electronic. In a wired system, the secondary clocks are hard-wired to the master clock with their own network of wiring. This dedicated wiring consists of 3 wires and requires that all secondary clocks be connected to this network in order to receive corrections from the master clock. These systems are usually 110 volts but some are 24 volts. The master clock energizes the third wire to apply voltage to the correction solenoids (called clutch magnets by the manufacturer) in the secondary clocks. In an electronic system, the correction impulse is applied to the normal building wiring, in the form of a high-frequency audio signal (typically 3510 Hz) applied to the normal 60 Hz frequency of the electrical system. Special receivers in the secondary clocks receive this impulse & apply voltage to the correction solenoid. In this type system, secondary clocks need no special wiring & may be plugged into any 110 volt outlet in the building. The cycle can also be initiated manually for testing & adjustment as follows: With clock running, rotate 90 degrees to the right, so that the 9 is at the top. Hold in this position approximately 8 seconds (you may hear a clicking sound during this time), then return the clock to its normal upright position. Within 60 seconds, the hands will slowly advance to the next hour as described below in the third paragraph under Hourly Correction. The actual correction that follows is the same in both types of systems. The only difference (described above) is the method by which the correction solenoid is energized. Hourly Correction The correction impulse is issued by the system master clock at 57 minutes 54 seconds after each hour and lasts for 8 seconds (until 58 minutes 02 seconds). The correction solenoids in the secondary clocks are energized by this pulse. This causes the attached armature and cam to engage a gear and rotate upwards to lift a latch allowing the correction cycle to begin.

This takes 6 seconds and causes the secondary clocks to begin their correction cycle at precisely 58 minutes 0 seconds. The correction cycle lasts precisely 60 seconds, ending at 59 minutes 0 seconds at which time, all clocks in the system will display the same time as the master clock. The cycle causes an internal clock-wise sweep, beginning at the 59 minute position and takes 60 seconds, rotating around the dial, ending at the 59 minute position. During this sweep, if the minute hand is not in proper position, when the sweep rotation reaches it, the minute hand is slowly rotated at 1 rpm until it reaches the 59 minute mark. At this point it is now in sync with the master clock. During the cycle, the red second hand continues its normal 1 rpm motion but is held in place when it reaches the 60 second mark. It is released when the cycle is complete (minute hand reaches 59 minutes) and now minutes and seconds are both in sync with the master clock. 12 Hour Correction This impulse is issued by the system master clock at 5:57:54 AM and PM and is a longer version of the hourly correction impulse. Instead of lasting 8 seconds, this impulse is of 14 seconds duration, lasting until 58 minutes, 08 seconds. The cams in the secondary clocks are rotated further and lock the correction cycle latch open, causing the cycle to continue until the clocks reach 5:59:00. Depending on how many hours the secondary clocks were slow, they will now be several minutes slower than the master. This error is then corrected by the next normal hourly correction at 6:57:54