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Shortt–Synchronome clock

Tmuir

By Tmuir
in All Things Clocks

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Tmuir Distinguished Member

Tmuir

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The Perth Observatory has in their possession a Shortt–Synchronome clock, this clock used to be the clock that provided the time for Western Australia.

For those that have never heard of it, this is the most accurate pendulum clock ever made. When it was made in the 1920s and 30s it was believed to have an error of 1 second a year, but in 1984 one of these clocks was compared to an atomic clock and found to have an error of only 1 second every 12 years.

It achieves this by having 2 pendulums, one that swings in a vacuum which is the master and via magnetic sensors it sends pulses to a slave clock that displays the time.

I was just wondering is anyone here ever has had the chance to see or touch one of these clocks?

Currently the observatory is looking to get this repaired, I have no involvement in this, but I do know people that are tendering to repair the clock and should they be successful I will be asking if I can atleast come up and see the clock whilst they service it. Just stressing I won't be working on the clock, but to get a chance to see a clock like this serviced would be too good an opportunity to miss.

For those that would like to do some more reading on this clock it has a wiki page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortt–Synchronome_clock

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wls1971 Distinguished Member

wls1971

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32 minutes ago, Tmuir said:

I was just wondering is anyone here ever has had the chance to see or touch one of these clocks?

I have seen them before there are various ones on display in museums in the U.K, I have seen one at the Greenwich Observatory and the science museum has one in its collection and quite surprisingly they do turn up in auctions I have a Christies catalogue for a specialist horology sale in which one is listed.

As for touching one I always heed the signs that say "Do not touch the exhibits":)

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