subject: Uk Speaking Clock 75th Anniversary! [print this page] The first speaking clock service was introduced in the UK in 1936, completing 75 years on the 24th of July, 2011. The clock features a number of motors, valves, photocells, and glass disks. Ethel Jane Cain, a London receptionist was the first voiceover for the speaking clock, a privilege she earned at a competition. Her voice was recorded on glass discs while the service was available to customers by dialling 846 in the cities of London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, and Edinburgh. People from other cities were required to dial 952, which was later changed to 80 and once again to 8081. Since the numbers coincided with the alphabets TIM, the clock is popularly known as Tim. With advancements in technology in the 1990s, the number was changed to 123, and can be reached from a BT phone line. Callers are charged 31 pence for the call,0330 Numbers,0300 Numbers.
From glass discs to microchips
Many other operators run similar speaking clocks or redirect calls to the BT service. Sara Mendes da Costa from Hove, East Sussex took over from Brian Cobby in 2007 as the voiceover after 22 years. Ms. Costa became the fourth permanent voice after a competition for BBC Children in Need. The service receives over 70 million calls each year. In 1963, the original device was replaced with a rotating magnetic drum manufactured by Roberts & Armstrong (Engineers) Ltd of North Wembley. The system was once more upgraded in 1984 with a built-in crystal oscillator and solid-state microchips that occupies less space as much case as a small suitcase. The new clock has no moving parts and provides the time with five-thousandths of a second accuracy,0845 Numbers,0844 Numbers,03 Numbers.
Multiple uses of the speaking clock
The speaking clock was designed not just to tell the time. It was designed to broadcast messages during the Cold War and warn of nuclear attacks. The messages would travel from Strike Command at RAF High Wycombe to HANDEL units installed at police stations from where automatic warning sirens could be activated. The clock is synchronised with Coordinated Universal Time. Orange or 3 Mobile telephone networks do not feature the speaking clock service since they use the same numbers for their Answerphone services. International callers that are interested in listening in to the speaking clock can dial +44 871 789 3642. Interestingly, the 75 year old clock is most busy at 5 pm local time, for reasons that are debatable. Many say that it is the time that office goers want to look busy before they pack up for the day,0871 Numbers,0800 Numbers,Freephone Numbers.
