TR Services electric time clock and ticket holder

Technical characteristics

Date

circa 1960

Type

Electric clock

Maker

T.R. Services

Marking

Made in Sweden

Ownership

Telephone Rentals Limited

Dimensions

Clock: 22.3 cm L, 15.4 cm W, 33.3 cm H; Ticket Holder: 93.5 cm H, 11 cm W, 3.1 cm D

Place recorded

England

Maker / attribution

T.R. Services

Registration Number

SH 922683

Design

Visible features

• Green metal casing with a manual punch handle located on the right side. • Circular analog clock face displaying the TR Services logo. • Wall-mounted green plastic ticket rack with 25 numbered storage slots. • Electrical power lead extending from the lower rear of the casing.

Usage and Context

This time clock system served as an industrial tool for monitoring the working hours of employees. Its primary function was to facilitate the mechanical recording of arrival and departure times onto physical cards. The presence of the Ticket Holder alongside the clock allowed for the management of twenty-five individual cards, ensuring an orderly tracking process for a specific group of workers. The object was associated with professional use in Melbourne, Australia, indicating its utility as a standard piece of equipment within commercial or industrial environments during the mid-20th century. The specific configuration, including the electrical power supply and the manual punch mechanism, reflects the technology utilized for attendance tracking prior to the digital era.

Construction and Design

The time clock is constructed as a substantial rectangular box, finished in green, intended for secure wall mounting. The design incorporates a primary clock dial situated on the upper portion of the face, which provides the visual time reference for operators. A specialized mechanical slot is positioned at the center, facilitating the insertion and punching of time cards to record attendance. The operation is supported by a browny-gold metal handle on the right side of the unit, which the user would manipulate to register the time on the cards. Complementing the clock unit is a vertical ticket holder constructed from green plastic. This component features twenty-five slanting pockets, each designated with a specific number on a white sticker. The arrangement of these pockets allows for the organized storage of employee time cards in a sequence, essentially functioning as a companion to the punch clock. The entire assembly utilizes an electrical power connection to maintain the clock's operation, with a cord trailing from the main housing.

Signatures and Markings

The object bears several distinct inscriptions that identify its manufacturing and ownership history. The clock face displays the name "TR SERVICES" printed in black and silver, with the text "MADE IN ENGLAND" located near the numeral six. A prominent property label is affixed to the lower edge of the casing, identifying the unit as belonging to "Telephone Rentals Limited," with an address in Knightsbridge, London. Further physical identifiers include a series of numbers 1 through 7 across the top of the unit on a black oblong plate. Despite the primary attribution to London, the casing also features an engraving on the rear indicating "MADE IN SWEDEN," suggesting a multinational production or component sourcing process. The brand mark "TR" is also found on a plastic stamp attached below the main clock dial.

Identification

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.