24-hour dial

From Object Wiki

24-hour dial
Manufacturer	The Synchronome Co., Ltd.
Production years	(unknown)
Production location	(unknown)

For some purposes it is convenient to reckon the day in 24 hours starting from midnight, and when this system is adopted a dial similar to the one exhibited is employed for clocks and watches.

[edit] How it works

The system is in use on the Continent, and its use has been suggested on the British railways and in the Post Office, in order to avoid the confusion which now arises, especially in long-distance railway timetables, between times a.m. and p.m. In order to indicate the time uniquely it would be necessary to employ a dial having 24 hours in a single ring, and to alter the clock mechanism so as to make the hour-hand rotate once in 24 hours instead of in 12 hours. In order to avoid such alteration of mechanism the present type of dial is employed, so that ordinary clocks can be made to show 24 hour time with very little modification. There is no ambiguity with this type of dial for in all practical cases an observer looking at a clock knows whether the time is a.m. or p.m. and hence is able to read off the time on the appropriate ring of figures.

[edit] Memories

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[edit] In the Science Museum's Records

Inv. No: 1931-279