Our Future Clocks and Watches

Abstract

I WOULD suggest, as a modification of “R. B.'s” suggestion in NATURE (p. 80), that the striking of the clocks on the twenty-four system might be varied at each quarter of the day, so as to indicate the time without so much striking. Thus, 1 (a.m.) to 6 might be indicated by the usual method; 7 could be indicated by two strokes, a pause, and one stroke; 8, by two strokes, a pause, and two strokes; and so on to 12; 13, by three strokes, a pause, and one stroke; and so on to 18; 19, by four strokes, a pause, and one stroke; and so on to 24, which being thus indicated by only ten strokes would require less effort to count, and make less noise than by the old system. Dials might be modified in the same way. Instead of twelve there would be only six divisions around the dial, and the quarter of the day could be indicated by a small wheel revolving behind a peep hole, or by a third hand (which could be very short) revolving once a day over four divisions or quadrants, marked on the dial near the axis. People, however, would seldom or never need to look at this. Thus would be done away all the objections urged by Harmer. The hour-markings are only conventional signs any way, and it does not make any especial difference in what way the hours are indicated if people would only accustom themselves to the use of the twenty-four hour system in speaking and writing.