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Vintage Telephony and Telecomms Vintage Telephones, Telephony and Telecomms Equipment |
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24th Jul 2016, 11:00 am | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,150
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Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
Happy birthday the speaking clock (TIM)
80 years old today born on 24th July 1936 http://home.bt.com/news/bt-life/hist...11364074797681 |
24th Jul 2016, 7:48 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,817
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
The woman who is the latest choice was on at the end of the Breakfast Show [BBC1] just before 9am this morning. She said that the service was still more reliable than others because it wasn't subject to slight errors or variations, as with a Satellite source for example!
Dave W |
24th Jul 2016, 10:07 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,517
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
Radio 4 had an half hour piece on 16th July - "A brief history of TIM". Overproduced to death, lots of echo added, all the voices talking over one another etc. They did manage to squeeze about 5 minutes of technical explanation into it though.
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24th Jul 2016, 11:38 pm | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flintshire, UK.
Posts: 707
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
And the old 'Pat Simmonds' GPO clock of the 1960/70/80's is still running on the old Speaking Clock code 8081 before it became 123.
Try 01352 83 8081 - might even be included in your free call package as it is a normal geographic number and not a 'premium rate' 08... number. |
25th Jul 2016, 8:11 am | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 2,038
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
Just tried that number. Works ok and is part of my call package
I wonder why they've kept that going - PR stunt? Cheers Aub
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Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all. |
25th Jul 2016, 12:14 pm | #6 |
Hexode
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Taunton, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 348
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
It always 'amuses' me that despite "..The Speaking Clock is accurate to within 30 microseconds.." if you listen to analogue radio stations there is a short time delay and on digital radio the delay is significant - that's modern technology for you
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25th Jul 2016, 12:23 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
How accurate is the timing on the 01352 83 8081 ? Is it run to the same standard as the original?
I believe the "they" isn't BT, but private enterprise by vintage telephone enthusiasts.
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25th Jul 2016, 2:11 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,127
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
I'm sure member Pellseinydd will confirm one way or the other, but that number looks like one his as part of the CNet family. If so, it will presumably be the same one accessible from CNet itself, and will be rather more accurate than radio/televison broadcast time signals.
... and yes, I too was very disappointed by the radio programme with all its "special" effects drowning out any actual content.
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Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Last edited by Dave Moll; 25th Jul 2016 at 2:14 pm. Reason: the radio broadcast |
25th Jul 2016, 2:57 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
I suppose that means that London is no longer the last place on Earth to hear the chimes of Big Ben?
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If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments. |
25th Jul 2016, 9:14 pm | #10 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flintshire, UK.
Posts: 707
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
Quote:
Also another Speaking Clock is available on a PSTN number on another exchange on the road between Aberdeen and Braemar - 01330 55 8081. I was recently phoned by someone (a GPO Strowger exchange engineer) who lives a couple of miles from a certain big castle on the same road. He recognised the code as being the old Speaking Clock code and 'her' voice and said he would give her the number next time he saw her! I'm in the process of having an 020 number setup just in case I get moved - to the Tower |
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25th Jul 2016, 10:52 pm | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 2,181
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
Might get a laugh- Once on a job, I was asked in all seriousness if the lady on TIM got fed up of the job.
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26th Jul 2016, 11:36 am | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flintshire, UK.
Posts: 707
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Re: Happy 80th birthday Speaking Clock !!
Not quite as odd; as you might think
See the start of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp4zlMZVcmM And still running in the Telecoms Museum in Melbourne and accessible on CNet by dialling 010 61 3 1194 from the UK for free !! |