Tabletop Time Ball -- Flamsteed House, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, UK - Time Signals on Waymarking.com

The waymark coordinates are for the Flamsteed House at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, which is worth your time to explore. Among the many displays of timepieces and chronometers inside, in this case sits a table-top time ball that merchants would put in their windows during the late 19th-century to share the correct time with customers and people walking by.

An interpretive signs nearby read as follows:

"TIME SUBSCRIBERS

The Royal Observatory was not the only suppliers of accurate time. The Standard Time and Telephone Company provided clocks like this, corrected every hour by an electrical signal. The company tried to discredit their rival, the Greenwich Chronometer Lady, Ruth Bellville, with negative publicity.

TIME BALLS

The Greenwich time ball was installed in 1833. It soon became a public icon, similar devices being set up worldwide. Tabletop versions, such as this one, set in the windows of shops and offices. An hourly telegraph time signal made the ball drop, providing accurate time for passers-by."

Type: Time Ball In service: no Time of signal: 12.00 Address: Flamsteed House Royal Observatory Greenwich London UK Weblink (if any): [Web Link] Year established (if known): Not listed Year decommissioned (if applicable): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   09/25/2016 Master Mariner visited it 07/21/2016 Benchmark Blasterz visited it

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