A speaking clock or talking clock is a live or recorded human voice service, usually accessed by telephone, that gives the correct time. The first telephone speaking clock service was introduced in France, in association with the Paris Observatory, on February 14, 1933. Callers could dial a number (initially “3699”) to hear the exact time announced by a recorded female voice. The system used mechanical recordings on glass discs, synchronized with a master clock to ensure precision.
Britain introduced its speaking clock service on July 24, 1936, operated by the General Post Office (GPO). Callers dialed TIM (846) to hear: “At the third stroke, it will be…” followed by the exact time. The original voice was Jane Cain, a London telephone exchange worker chosen from over 15,000 applicants for her clear and pleasant accent. The equipment used optical film recordings and electro-mechanical timers.
The first automated time service in the United States began in Atlanta, Georgia in 1934 as a promotion for Tick Tock Ginger Ale. Company owner John Franklin modified Western Electric technology to create the machine that would become known as the Audichron. The Audichron Company became the chief supplier of talking clocks in the US, maintained by local businesses and, later, the regional Bell System companies.
In Australia, the number 1194 was the speaking clock in all areas. The service started in 1953 by the Post Master General’s Department, originally to access the talking clock on a rotary dial phone, callers would dial “B074,” during the transition from a rotary dial to a DTMF based phone system, the talking clock number changed from “B074” to 1194. It was always the current time from where the call originated, in part due to Telstra’s special call routing systems. Landline, Payphone and Mobile customers who called the 1194 time service would receive the time.
Early speaking clocks relied on rotating discs, film loops, or glass records with pre-recorded words and phrases. These segments were pieced together to create continuous time announcements. Transition to magnetic tape and solid-state electronics improved reliability and reduced maintenance. Digital systems synchronized with atomic clocks brought accuracy to within milliseconds.
Many services adopted synthesized voices or high-quality digital recordings. Some countries now provide speaking clock services online or via smartphone apps. The speaking clock became part of daily life before digital watches and the internet. People called it to set their wristwatches, time baking, or even to check if their phone was working.
With mobile phones, the internet, and radio/TV time signals, speaking clocks have largely become nostalgic services. Many countries have retired them, but the UK’s service (dial 123 today) still operates, maintained by BT and synchronized with the National Physical Laboratory’s atomic clock.
Leave a Reply