[BC] Horological considerations for Advanced Time

[Tom Taggart]

After carefully reviewing the exhaustive discussion regarding the recalibration of microprocessor-controlled time-based software, in anticipation of this weekend's Congressionally mandated premature excursion into advanced time, I decided to review and examine procedures for the adjustment of my domestic horological devices.

As a guide to my planning, I also consulted the recent history of the FCC's attempts to cope with the sudden advance of the time-change date.

Therefore I conducted a preliminary survey of the horological devices in my living room. The primary instrument is marked "LaCrosse," and it is presumably controlled by a primitive microprocessor. Markings indicate remote calibration by WWVB signal. Upon the onset of time change on Saturday next, it will undoubtedly indicate the correct minute and second. However, since the case is sealed in plastic, it is apparent that the native software cannot be adjusted, or revised. The solution will be a post-it note installed on 11 March noting that 1 hour should be added to the indicated time.

The next unit, marked Sunbeam, is an electro-chemically powered wall-mount device using an internal oscillator to drive the indicating hands. Manual re-calibration will be needed, using the rear-mounted wheel that allows adjustment of the indicating hands.

The remaining three horological devices will prove more problematical.  Two are wall-mounted, one manufactured by a "Simon Willard" of Boston, the other by an "Aaron Willard."
Since they are clearly of early 19th century design, no manufacturer's manual is available, even after an internet search. 

Both devices are gravity-regulated, spring-driven devices, using a weight and escape mechanism to allow for incremental release of the spring power to drive the indicating hands, and a moving pendulum to provide precise timed release of the geared escape mechanism.

As I recall, the first device, a gilded instrument commonly known as a "banjo," worked at its former installation in Cleveland.  However, the present mounting, on a fieldstone wall adjacent to the fireplace, prevents proper operation of the pendulum regulating system as the system departs too far from vertical.

The second device, the Aaron Willard "banjo," also worked up until 1983, when the gravity-drive mechanism abruptly stopped. At that time, the 2.5 kilo lead weight abruptly plunged through the bottom of the device.

Hence, neither device will need further recalibration with the institution of advanced time.  They will still accurately display the correct time twice a day.  Furthermore, the Aaron Williard is, with the loss of the lead weight, now fully compliant with European ROHS guidelines.

The final device, of case design, six foot in height, is fully operational and has been maintaining accurate display of the time within +/- 30 seconds over the period of a week.
It is also of spring-powered, gravity-drive design, with a much larger regulating pendulum, contributing to its accuracy.  However, this device announces each hour with a series of loud bell sounds, with no provision for silencing same.

This left me with a conundrum. I could either allow the clock to continue on non-advanced time through the night of March 10~morning of March 11, but this would lead to widespread household confusion, due to the incorrect declaration of time throughout the night.  Or I could stay up until 2:00 AM March 11, and manually advance this device until the correct time of 3:00 AM.

Since the above procedure would require the loss of even more sleep than that hour confiscated prematurely by Congress, I decided to abandon the entire program of time recalibration until sometime in April....

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