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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock type · Specialist

Chronogram Clocks

Partially verified

Clocks that print or punch the time on a paper roll, used for recording attendance or timing events.

Movement & mechanism

  • Conventional clock movement coupled to a printing mechanism
  • Type wheels carry the hours and minutes
  • A lever or card operation triggers the print

Identification

  • Heavy industrial case, often iron or wood
  • A slot for cards or a handle to operate the print
  • Presence of a paper roll or ribbon

Terminology

  • Time recorder
  • Punch clock
  • Attendance clock

Known variations

  • Dial recorders and card recorders

Collecting notes

Condition and originality are paramount. For technical clocks like regulators or atmospheric clocks, the completeness of the original mechanism is more important than case condition. For decorative clocks (Boulle, Empire), the quality of the case craft is central.

Related photographs

Standard Electric Time Co. Electromechanical Master Clock 02
Standard Electric Time Co. Electromechanical Master Clock 02 — Elecclock, CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Standard Electric Time Co. Electromechanical Master Clock 01
Standard Electric Time Co. Electromechanical Master Clock 01 — Elecclock, CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons file page

No confidently matched photograph of this subject has been found yet. These photographs show a closely related record, and are not examples of the type described on this page.

Sources & references

  1. Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers
  2. Loomes, B., The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain
  3. Roberts, D., British Skeleton Clocks
  4. Museum catalogue records

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.