time pieces arises in every phase of man’s work,
and when existing clocks cannot meet the need,
man finds others. He has done just this to attain
the super-accurate time measurement needed to
day in modern science where terrific velocities are
dealt with. The measure; an atomic gain or lose
a second. The clock consists of molecules of am
monia gas. In each molecule there are three atoms
of hydrogen and one of nitrogen. With the three
hydrogen atoms in a triangular pattern, the nitro
gen atom flips back and forth perpendicular to
their plane—the flip rate being 24,000,000,000
times a second.
Several different types of time systems which
provide one standard of time throughout a plant
or building have been in use for several years. In
such systems an accurate master controls time in
dicating clocks, time recorders and time signals
such as the five o’clock whistle. These systems re
quire some form of connection between the master
control and each of the individual clocks, recording
units and signals in the system.
The use of carrier current—alternating current
such as many of us have in our homes—offered an
attractive solution to this problem. After a long
period of research, engineering and testing, the
International Business Machines Corporation came
up with its electric time system with electronic
self-regulation. Time units in this system are con
trolled without special clock wiring. They operate
on regular AC lighting wires and are checked by
the master control for any variation from the
master’s time. If variations from the master con
trol’s time should occur due to power failure or
other unforeseen occurrences, the master control
will correct each unit not coordinated with it to
the second. It is here that the modern magic of
electronics enters. The master control initiates an
electronic pulse which is transmitted over the AC
lighting wires. If any subsidiary time units are
not in agreement with the master, the pulse causes
them to correct themselves to complete uniformity
with the master’s time.
While the accuracy of any time system or time
recording unit is .of concern to us in our daily
routine, it becomes doubly important in X-ray
rooms where time stamps are used to record
periods during which patients are exposed to
radiation. Too little radiation may be ineffective
while too much can be harmful. It is the time
stamp’s job to serve as the physician’s assistant,
checking the duration of exposure and, at the
same time, maintaining a permanent record of
treatment.
And now it has been found that there is a
psychological value in time indicating. A recent
issue of the Supervisor’s News Service carried a
story pointing up the benefits of the oft-maligned
habit of "clock-watching.” The head of the ac
counts division of a large department store de
clares it’s a good thing to have a platoon of clock
watchers in an office. His theory is that most
people glance at the clock to pace themselves at
their work. In other words, they clock themselves
and their tasks to accomplish as much as possible.
As part of protective measures established for
safety deposit box holders by banks, mechanically-
made time records are kept of the arrival and de
parture, as well as the names, of box holders. These
records have been offered as supporting evidence
in legal action to protect the safety deposit box
holders and their heirs.
They say everyone is born under a star. That
may be so. What is certain is the fact that all of
us, in one way or another, live by the star that
sets the time standard given us through our
clocks.
The three-minute sand glass is still in use today
to time such things as boiling eggs. During the
Middle Ages the hour glass was widely used in
Europe because it proved more accurate than the
Water Clock, The one pictured here was used to
time sermons in Salem, Mass. in the 17th Century.
As you can see, it is for a period considerably long
er than three minutes. An hour would be a closer
approximation of the time it took the sand to pass
from the top to the bottom of this aged hour glass.
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