Time Clock by Cox Walkers Ltd
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1898
This time clock is a mechanical recording device produced by Cox Walkers Limited of Darlington, England, with additional electrical engineering work attributed to Lawrence and Hanson of Australia.
Dated to approximately 1898, the device was designed to monitor employee attendance and round completion. The mechanism features a round clock face integrated with a horizontal copper cylinder. A row of suspended metal brushes sits above the cylinder, while a numbered wheel positioned at the side manages the recording process. The entire assembly is housed within a varnished wooden box, topped with a piece of galvanized iron and equipped with a front glass viewing panel.
A internal winder with a wooden knob facilitates operation. The clock was formerly utilized at the Mayday Hills Hospital in Beechworth, Victoria, where it served to track staff activity through marked paper rolls reviewed by the facility's Superintendent.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1898
- Type
- Other clock
- Maker
- Cox Walkers Limited
- Length
- 104.8 cm
- Provenance
- Mayday Hills Hospital
- Place recorded
- England
- Electrical Engineer
- Lawrence & Hanson
- Maker / attribution
- Cox Walkers Limited
- Registration Number
- SH 923100
- Country of Manufacture
- England, Great Britain
Design
- Visible features
- • Clock face displays Roman numerals and minute markers. • Copper cylinder spans the majority of the wooden base. • Row of metallic brushes is suspended over the cylinder. • Top section of the wooden housing features a galvanized iron surface.
- Operational History
- The clock was installed in the Superintendent's Office at the Mayday Hills Hospital in Beechworth, Victoria, around 1920. Its primary purpose was the monitoring of staff rounds within the facility. Attendants were required to punch the bell at designated times, leaving marks on a paper roll situated within the recording mechanism. The Head Attendant was responsible for the maintenance of the paper roll, which was subsequently provided to the Superintendent for verification. This system ensured that administrative staff could confirm that all scheduled rounds were performed accurately by hospital personnel. The device remained in institutional service until its donation to the museum collection in 1992.
- Housing and Materials
- The instrument is contained within a varnished wooden box designed for interior institutional use. The front of the case features a glass panel that allows for viewing the clock face and internal mechanical components. The top of the housing is covered by a piece of galvanized iron, providing a protective lid for the mechanism. The device is large, measuring 104.8 cm in length, 36.2 cm in width, and 32.7 cm in height.
- Mechanical Configuration
- The time clock is constructed around a central horizontal copper cylinder, which serves as the primary recording surface for employee attendance data. A row of brushes is suspended directly above this cylinder to facilitate the marking process. The device is operated via a numbered wheel located at the side of the apparatus, which coordinates with the clock mechanism to log specific time intervals. The clock face features standard Roman numerals and individual minute markers. The entire recording assembly is secured to a base and enclosed within a wooden cabinet. Access to the internal components is gained by lifting the box away from the base. A winder equipped with a wooden knob is provided for manual interaction with the system.
Identification
- Serial number
- SH 923100
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Specific date of internal electrical modifications by Lawrence & Hanson remains unverified beyond '1898 or later'.
- Research required: Functionality of the internal mechanism in current state is not assessed.