+Ianatlarge Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Time balls — let me explain. In the days of yore, before, ... well, everything ... at a prominent spot in some cities a ball was suspended, and then dropped to indicate a particular time. 12.00 seems to be the norm. This acted as a time keeping service. I came across one of these in Singapore, and I know of a few others in Australia. Any suggestions as to which category? Or should we start a new category? hahaha Joke. Quote Link to comment
GT.US Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Sounds interesting, do you have a youTube link, or photos so I can picture it? Quote Link to comment
+3l diesel Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 not youtube, but have a look at http://www.Waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6YT6_The_Roundhouse_Arthurs_Head_Fremantle (Ian would recognize this one straight away!) Quote Link to comment
+Ianatlarge Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 I assumed these devices were more common than it seems. Perhaps it is only those nations, which were once part of the great British Empire, that know of such things—not rebels? There used to be a Time Ball in Perth City, and in other ozi state captials. Here are pics and info of the Ball in Singapore. Maybe we do need a new category? hehe On a slider, visible across Sing city. The ball itself. Quote Link to comment
+BruceS Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Ian I actually took a photo of a time ball in your home country just over the weekend. Like the other one I have seen (Greenwich Observatory) it was at an observatory. Quote Link to comment
+Ianatlarge Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Ok, but which category? I have looked at wiki. There are >60 time balls. Maybe, maybe, maybe, a new category? I know, some Australian guy claimed that there should be at least 500 potential waymarks for a new category, but who listens to Australians? I mean, there are less than 500 Kugel balls. We can have time balls? Quote Link to comment
+Max and 99 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Aren't these essentially Town Clocks? Quote Link to comment
+Ianatlarge Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 Aren't these essentially Town Clocks? I would have thought no. No gears, no clock face, no other things I cannot think of. I could run it past the clock folk and see what they say. Still—— new category hahaha. Quote Link to comment
GT.US Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Aren't these essentially Town Clocks? I would have thought no. No gears, no clock face, no other things I cannot think of. I could run it past the clock folk and see what they say. Still—— new category hahaha. Is the definition of a clock that it tells time, or that it is a mechanical device? I'd try town clocks and see if it gets approved. Quote Link to comment
+BruceS Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 (edited) At this time town clocks would not be a good place to submit a time ball. A clock tells time continuously as a time ball tells the time once a day. Time balls were used to set the time on clocks as they dropped precisely at a set time each day. Edited October 25, 2012 by BruceS Quote Link to comment
+Ianatlarge Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 Its 5am. I have not slept. I just know I should not type, but I cannot stop myself. A new category? The Time Ballers. Maybe we could get a rise out of that? Quote Link to comment
+silverquill Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Interesting! Well, I wouldn't be opposed to expanding Town Clocks to include these, but they are substantially different. We have a dedicated category for sundials, which could also be considered clocks. Lack of prevalence would be the big issue in a new category. But, I think this is one of those case where the high "unique and interesting" factor ought to outweigh the "hundreds of waymarks in every country of the world" factor. What, I ask, is wrong with have a smaller category for something as fascinating as these objects? Quote Link to comment
+Ianatlarge Posted October 26, 2012 Author Share Posted October 26, 2012 O, no. A new category. The drama, the suspense! I am on the move at the moment. I will give the matter some though and put some notes together. Hoot hoot ! Quote Link to comment
+dtrebilc Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 In the UK the Greenwich Observatory used to send a time signal to railway stations to enable them to set their clocks accurately. The railway stations were allowed to then transmit the same signal to clock makers and sellers. This way mark http://www.Waymarking.com/wm/search.aspx?f=1&lat=53.801279&lon=-1.548567&t=3&id=leeds&kw=time%20ball&st=2 shows a shop in Leeds that had 2 time balls and 2 large public clocks on display. The time ball used to drop at 13:00 pm. Because of the clocks I managed to post it to Town Clocks. Quote Link to comment
+fi67 Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 I never heard of them before and had to to some research to find out what they are at all. A very interesting and distinct piece of history. But it looks like there are only about 60 of them left worldwide. This is going to become a tough vote. I wish you good luck, but I would not bet on a positive result. Quote Link to comment
+Ianatlarge Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 For those following this discussion, I have created a new group (mghmoms) "Time Balls". Anyone interested in being an officer please feel free to sign up. I suspect a low frequency of waymarks. So you will not be rushed off your feet. From what I gather, even thought there is a Time Ball club (http://www.1oclockgun.org.uk/index.html), there is no single list of all TBs. Maybe we could do something about that? . I am writing a draft category. I will post in a new topic in a few days. Still travelling. Quote Link to comment
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