Q. "What does the SEC trademark on the movement of a smiths clock stand for"

An advertisement in the may 32 issue of HJ stated that 'SEC' meant made by 'Smiths electric clocks' but I believe this to be just a copywriters happy phrase.

From very early days Smiths used two almost identical trademarks with the letters "SEC". These are shown on the letterhead of Smiths English Clocks Ltd. which was in use in 1933 and is reproduced below.

One logo shows the letters SEC with an arrow like line through the centre and with the description "English Lever Drum Movements" beneath.

The second logo also shows the letters SEC but now with a zigzag and pointed line. The description below this logo is "Synchronous Clocks".

Another letterhead dated 1938 notes the SEC mark as a registered trade mark for Smiths English Clocks.

Q. "Some clocks in the Smiths range are marked "Smith" on the dial, whilst others are marked "SmithS". Can you explain this and is there a changeover date."

A In their early catalogues the company called itself "Smith's". The 1935 catalogue has two sections "Smith's" and "Smith-Empire".

In 1936 they started using "Smith" as the name and this continued in their advertising until 1942. I have a blank in my records until 1948, by which time they had started to use the name "Smiths". After that, "Smiths" was used consistently. There is no apparent precise date for the change and I think that the older signature remained in use until each particular model was discontinued.

The situation is complicated, as always with Smiths, because somebody dreamed up the trade name "Smith Alarms" and this was used as a logo on some alarms and pictorial clocks from roughly 1952 to 1955.

Q. "In catalogues and advertising brochures and on new clocks the hands are almost always set to 9:23:37. Do you know why this time was chosen?"

A. In 1948, Smiths management told George Strauss, then Minister of Supply, that the reason they set the clock hands to 9:23 was that "it is the best position to balance the appearance of the face of the clock for photography without concealing the trademarks".

Q. "owners of older electric clocks speak of a telltale..what is this?"

A. When synchronous clocks were first introduced there was extensive discussion as to whether it was best to have a self starting clock or a non self starting clock. The self starter had the advantage that it would restart after a power failure (not uncommon in those days) but the disadvantage that the owner did not know if it had stopped, in which case the time shown would not be correct. On the other hand the non self start clock stopped if there was a power cut so the owner knew it was not right. With the latter type a telltale of some sort was often fitted so the owner could see if it was still running. This was often a wheel with painted sectors, or a seconds hand. With the former type, the self start models, a different telltale was sometimes fitted which would show an indication, perhaps a patch of red showing in a dial aperture if the clock had been stopped at any time.

Q. " Why is my clock not listed in your photo gallery?"

A. There are several reasons why your clock may not be listed.

1. I may not as yet have any data about that model.

I am totally dependent on people like yourself sending me details of any smiths clock for which you have a picture and know the model name and a date. Catalogues or reference lists are the obvious source if you have one. Please get in touch. I only need a photocopy or page scan on CD.

3. This whole page is a solo effort and mistakes are sure to exist. Please tell me when you find one. I may well have placed a clock in the wrong category for the search.

4.The wording "Smiths" on the movement or dial does not always indicate that the whole clock was produced or marketed by Smiths. They sold movements with dials to other persons to encase as they wished.

Then again they had some special arrangement with their two main dealers who often exhibited their own special ranges fitted with Smiths movements. None of these are in the catalogues and so are not generally in my list of Smiths clocks. I have included in the book some marketed by the dealers and sold under the "Tempora" name

Q. "Where can I get spare parts for Smiths Clocks or where can I send my clock for repair?"

A. Parts
I do not know of anybody who has any original spare parts for Smiths Clocks. When Smiths decided to stop making clocks in 1979 they simply closed down, making no provision for future repair needs.

One possible source, if the item has a high sentimental value, is eBay, because Smiths made clocks in unbelievably large numbers and there is a constant stream of these for sale on eBay, so that it may be possible to find one with a similar part in it. Be aware that whatever you buy will be as old, and potentially as worn, as the part you are replacing!

Repairs to Smiths handwound clocks.
I believe that most clock repairers nowadays will undertake repairs to handwound models, although in times gone by they tended to dismiss them as rubbish.

Repairs to Smiths Sectric models
Until very recently mains driven clocks were a problem. No repairer in his right mind would undertake a repair, because an electrical item has nowadays to pass very stringent tests for safety reasons. The repairer would be liable if he did not fully test the item and the test equipment required is very expensive so repair cost was very high.

The problem has now been overcome by Mark Lines who has developed a method of rewinding the motor to run on low voltage ac. Visit www.electric-clocks.co.uk for full details.

Repairs to Smiths Battery or Quartz clocks
Old battery and quartz clocks also present a repair problem because they often contain plastic parts and if these have failed then no replacements are available. Since such clocks have as yet little or no value to collectors the simple answer is to have a new movement fitted.

Modern quartz movements are readily available and sizes to suit most clocks can be obtained. All the movements now available are of foreign manufacture.