A Pulsynetic C69 programmable electromagnetic impulse timer Gents, Leicester, mid to late 20th century With black painted cast iron frame applied with electromagnetic slave mechanism shunting a large diameter twenty-four hour wheel drilled with holes positioned at five-minute intervals to circumference to take pins to engage with the timing contacts, with day-of-the week disc to allow de-activation over the weekend and mercury short-interval timer, set along with connection terminals within a glazed-front wooden case with lift-off cover incorporating front door, applied with paper label incorporating serial number 120778 in ink to the inside of the left hand side and an ivorine button inscribed MAKERS, GENTS, OF LEICESTER to lower front rail, 45cm (17.75ins) wide. Gents of Leicester were founded by John Thomas Gent in 1872 and specialised in producing electric timepieces principally for semi-public and industrial use alongside fire alarm systems, telephones, transformers and related products. The firm initially operated from Faraday Road, Leicester, later (after WWII) moving to nearby Kibworth. They were bought-out by the multi-national organisation, Chloride, in 1981. The current lot would have almost certainly served as an automatic bell ringer in a school or factory. The mechanism would be driven by impulses directly from a master clock every thirty seconds causing the large diameter twenty-four hour dial to rotate. Pins inserted within the circumference of the ring would engage with contact points at programmable intervals which, in-turn, would cause a circuit to become open for a short period of time (dictated by the controlled flow of mercury in the short duration timing switch). The day of the week dial allows the mechanism to be disabled over the weekend.
A Pulsynetic C69 programmable electromagnetic impulse timer Gents, Leicester, mid to late 20th century With black painted cast iron frame applied with electromagnetic slave mechanism shunting a large diameter twenty-four hour wheel drilled with holes positioned at five-minute intervals to circumference to take pins to engage with the timing contacts, with day-of-the week disc to allow de-activation over the weekend and mercury short-interval timer, set along with connection terminals within a glazed-front wooden case with lift-off cover incorporating front door, applied with paper label incorporating serial number 120778 in ink to the inside of the left hand side and an ivorine button inscribed MAKERS, GENTS, OF LEICESTER to lower front rail, 45cm (17.75ins) wide. Gents of Leicester were founded by John Thomas Gent in 1872 and specialised in producing electric timepieces principally for semi-public and industrial use alongside fire alarm systems, telephones, transformers and related products. The firm initially operated from Faraday Road, Leicester, later (after WWII) moving to nearby Kibworth. They were bought-out by the multi-national organisation, Chloride, in 1981. The current lot would have almost certainly served as an automatic bell ringer in a school or factory. The mechanism would be driven by impulses directly from a master clock every thirty seconds causing the large diameter twenty-four hour dial to rotate. Pins inserted within the circumference of the ring would engage with contact points at programmable intervals which, in-turn, would cause a circuit to become open for a short period of time (dictated by the controlled flow of mercury in the short duration timing switch). The day of the week dial allows the mechanism to be disabled over the weekend.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
