In 1877 Western Union first received time signals via telegraph form the US. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. after hiring a clockmaker to transmit U.S. Naval Observatory time on the hour over the company’s network.
A system sent signals over the telegraph lines several minutes before each hour of the day, followed by a pause and finally a last “click” directly on the hour. Every hour, on the hour, minute hands on clocks across the nation would snap to “12”, ensuring accurate, standardized time everywhere.
Stations clocks received that signal from the railroad head quarters from the master telegraph clock, keeping station clocks on calibrated time for each time zone.
The station manager would make adjustments to the other clocks and watches as needed and document the adjustments. The traveling time piece keeper stopped to maintain the clocks to keep them oiled and running perfectly, and serviced railroad employee pocket watches as well.
Yard masters and station masters collected broken watches and got them fixed or exchanged when the Western Union timekeepers car stopped.
The station manager would make adjustments to the other clocks and watches as needed and document the adjustments. The traveling time piece keeper stopped to maintain the clocks to keep them oiled and running perfectly, and serviced railroad employee pocket watches as well.
Yard masters and station masters collected broken watches and got them fixed or exchanged when the Western Union timekeepers car stopped.
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