About the Telechron Master Clock Type B

The Telechron Master Clock Type B is one of the key models in the Warren Telechron Company's line of institutional master clocks. Like the Model A, it relies on a synchronous motor locked to the 60 Hz power grid for its primary timekeeping, but the Type B was designed as a more compact and economical option for smaller installations.

Design and Purpose

The Type B master clock was intended for use in schools, small office buildings, and factories where a full Model A system was more capability than required. Despite its smaller size, the Type B retains the fundamental advantage of synchronous electric timekeeping: its accuracy is governed by the power grid frequency rather than by a mechanical escapement, eliminating the need for manual regulation.

The Type B served as the central clock in a time distribution system, sending periodic correction signals to Telechron slave clocks mounted throughout a building. These slave clocks contained dual synchronous motors -- one that ran continuously for timekeeping and a second "correction" motor that could advance the hands to the correct position if they drifted or if power was interrupted.

Historical Context

Henry Ellis Warren founded the Warren Clock Company (later Warren Telechron) in Ashland, Massachusetts in 1912. His key insight was that the frequency of alternating current, if maintained accurately by power companies, could serve as a universal time standard. Warren personally lobbied power utilities to maintain their frequency to high accuracy, and by the 1930s, the 60 Hz power grid had become one of the most widely available precision time references in the world.

The Type B master clock was part of the product line that made this technology accessible to smaller institutions. When combined with the Telechron slave clocks, it provided synchronized timekeeping throughout a building with no ongoing maintenance beyond occasional cleaning.

Technical Specifications

• Timekeeping method: Synchronous motor, 60 Hz AC
• Power: 110V AC, 60 cycles
• Slave clock output: Periodic correction pulses for dual-motor Telechron slaves
• Case: Wooden case with glass front panel
• Manufacturer: Warren Telechron Company, Ashland, Massachusetts