Willis world clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1929-1935
The Willis world clock is a horological instrument manufactured in Norwich, England, by J. H. Willis and Company between 1929 and 1935. Patented by John Henry Willis in 1929, the clock serves to indicate local time in various parts of the world.
The mechanism features a central hour-indicating dial that rotates rather than employing traditional moving hands. Radial lines on the dial facilitate time tracking across international regions by connecting specific countries to an inner dial. A secondary, smaller subsidiary dial tracks minutes, which remain uniform across global time zones. Additional graphic indicators include names in red ink to denote regions observing summertime and asterisks to mark the beginning of a new day within a specific zone.
The device is housed in a wooden casing and includes a dedicated winding key for operation.
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
- Type
- Desk clock
- Maker
- J. H. Willis and Company
- Weight
- 3.08kg
- Patentee
- John Henry Willis
- Dimensions
- 320 mm x 330 mm x 90 mm
- Place recorded
- England
- Place of origin
- Norwich, England
- Maker / attribution
- J. H. Willis and Company
- Summertime indicator
- Red ink
Design
- Visible features
- • Hexagonal wooden case with hinged front glass panel • Radial lines on the main dial for geographic time calculation • Central rotating hour dial • Subsidiary dial for minutes
- Design and Functionality
- The Willis world clock is designed to display time across different global regions. The primary time-telling feature is a central, rotating dial that indicates the hour, dispensing with the conventional hand-and-dial arrangement. Surrounding this are radial lines that allow the user to correlate time between countries by tracing a line from a specific nation on the outer dial to the corresponding section on the inner dial. Minutes are displayed on a separate, smaller subsidiary dial situated below the main clock face. This arrangement ensures that the minute indication remains consistent, as it is uniform regardless of the time zone. The clock includes specialized markers, such as asterisks for indicating the start of a new day and specific red-colored text to signify countries observing summertime adjustments.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The clock is identified by the accession number 1935-8 and is associated with the patent held by John Henry Willis, filed in 1929. The unit was produced in Norwich, England, by J. H. Willis and Company. The manufacture date range is documented as 1929 to 1935. The device exists within the collection of the Science Museum Group, cited as an example of the Willis world clock patent.
- Construction and Specification
- The object is contained within an approximately hexagonal wooden housing, measuring 320 mm by 330 mm by 90 mm. A hinged front cover fitted with a glass panel protects the clock face, providing access to the dial. The overall unit weighs 3.08 kg. A dedicated metal winding key is included with the device to facilitate operation of the internal mechanism. The physical construction reflects its purpose as a functional desktop or stationary instrument for monitoring worldwide time.
Identification
- Accession number
- 1935-8
- 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: Exact production date within 1929-1935 range not specified for this unit
- Research required: Mechanism internals not visible in photographs