BUNDY CLOCKS
News from the Internet. Following publication of ‘Omnibus’ extracts on the BaMMOT Website, we received the following e-mail from David B Johnson in the USA:
I am a collector of early American made time recording clocks that were used to record employee time in factories and alike. The common card recording clock which recorded time on a paper card inserted into the clock was actually preceded by the key recording clock. In a key recording clock, a numbered key exclusive to one employee was inserted in the clock which recorded the number of the key and the time on a thin strip of paper inside the clock. This record was then used to track employee time. To put this into perspective, see my web site at the link below to view an early Bundy key recording clock: http://home.infi.net/~davidj/Bundy.html
The key recoding clock was invented by Willard Bundy of Auburn, NY, USA, and he and his brother formed the Bundy Manufacturing Company in Binghamton, NY. This company later become IBM. A while ago I noticed a reference to Bundy clocks in England used as a way to track the on time performance of buses, and I have been wondering for some time if there was a connection to the Bundy Manufacturing Company of Binghamton. I know that Bundy had a strong presence in England, and in fact, my Bundy was made in Binghamton but sold in Great Britain. Bundy also had all inventions patented in the US and Great Britain. I have received the patents from the British Patent Office, and they are identical to the US patents.
Therefore, I am certain that the Bundy clocks that you are speaking of actually have their roots in the US. Can you send me a digital picture or two of your Bundy clocks? We may be able to see a similarity to the American made Bundy as seen on my site. What are the other distinguishing characteristics of your Bundy clocks? There have been a few articles written about the Bundy Manufacturing Company here in the US, but none ever mentioned the use of the basic Bundy key recorder as a time recoding device for busses in England. Since these Bundy clocks seem to be all over the place in England, I am not sure how such a connection could have been missed. I am interested in your information.
David Johnson
After a response from Phil Ireland, we got this further note:
Thank you or the response. I am quite sure that the Bundy clocks you have in your collection are associated with the Bundy Manufacturing Company originally of Binghamton, NY, USA. The BMC patented the basic design of their time recording mechanism is the UK beginning in 1890. Therefore, if the recording mechanisms are similar in my American made Bundy and your Bundy, there must be a connection as no other company in the UK could have produced a similar design because of the patents.
I have also listed below a link that highlights the development of time recording clocks in the UK, and Bundy is mentioned several times. http://www.clock-museum.co.uk/zuk%20timeline.htm
I have also corresponded with the owner of this site, Barrie Smith, but he is unaware of the Bundy clocks of Birmingham. Because he is in the UK, you may want to strike up a conversation with him on the subject as well. Please feel free to print my letter in the next newsletter. Also, you may want to list my web site a reference for your members. One last question, what are the markings on the dial or the case of these clocks?
David
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