Seiko QC-M1 Quartz Marine Master Clock-Chronometer 1968-74

Significance

The Seiko QC-M1 Quartz Marine Master Clock Chronometer was one of the first quartz marine chronometers developed in the late 1960s. Along with over aids to navigation, including radio, it saw the end to mechanical marine chronometers in the 1970s. Made from 1968-74, the QC-M1 would have been one of the first commercial quality quartz clocks.

The QC-M1 used the newly available integrated circuits (IC) for digital frequency division from the quartz crystal and equally new power transistors to drive the electromechanical master clock and slave clock. The QC-M1 would have been very expensive in its day.

The Junghans Astro Chron table clock was the first domestic clock made from 1967. It used discrete transistors rather than ICs presumably due to cost.


Description

The QC-M1 was like no marine master clock before it and sets a new configuration for the class. It is housed in a steel box designed to hang on the wall of the ship's bridge.

The clock can be powered form 24 V DC or 110 V AC, although it was probably battery-backed.

There are two circuit boards. The first has the quartz crystal oscillator and digital divider ICs to produce a 1 Hz pulse. The second is the driver for the electromechanical master and slave impulse clocks.

India specialises in scrapping old ships. Presumably this clock was in use up until it was scrapped, probably as the ship's master clock, rather than for navigation.

Via eBay from India. Avalaible on eBay now for a few hundred dollars; get them while you can!

Notes

http://wp.clockdoc.org/gallery/european-other/   Home page. Very good for electric clocks of all sorts.
https://clockdoc.org/default.aspx?aid=8635   QC-M1 photos

QC-M1 with Master and slave clocks. The cabinet has been painted black rather tha the original naval blue-grey.

The quartz clock circuit board is to the right and the clock driver board to the left, both plug-in.

A small production run and a low serial. A very early quartz clock.

The quartz clock board. The quartz crystal in a glass tube is to the right. The integrated circuits are an early series of digital ICs. They divide the quartz frequency down to 1 Hz to drive the impulse master clock, via the high power driver board. The original colour of the case in the background.

Master clock with second hand. Electromechanical.

The slave clock.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seiko Vibron Tuning Fork Clock c1960s-70s

Image
Significance A Seiko clock using a tuning fork and mechanical movement, powered by a battery and single transistor drive. Made in Japan in the 1960s to early 70s in the brief period after transistors became available and before they were replaced by quartz clocks. Description The Seiko Vibron VBZ-208 is an electronic-mechanical, 6-jewel clock that uses a 150 Hz vibration, H-shaped, double-ended tuning fork. The tuning fork element was developed by Seiko to be virtually immune to changes in temperature being made of a special alloy. A single transistor switch drives a solenoid to magnetically excite the tuning fork. The other end of the tuning fork has two magnets, along with a rotating disk that constitutes a synchronous motor that then drives the gears set to the hands. The movement offers extremely high timekeeping precision. The clock is big and heavy, around 2 kg, indicating it was probably quite expensive when new. The face is metal rather than plas...
Read more

Bulle battery electro-mechanical pendulum clock

Image
Significance A pendulum clock that doesn't need winding, just its battery replaced each year. Reasonably accurate because of a pendulum when adjusted carefully. Uses the then-new electricity in the 1920s. Super cute too! Shows the workings of the mechanism. Description Electro-mechanical. Battery powered, 1.5 V cell. Electromagnetic pulse to keep pendulum working. The coil is on the pendulum which moves in an arc over a rod that is permanently magnetised. The pulse is triggered so that opposite magnetic poles attract and like repel. The impulse is probably more gentle than that from a spring-escapement mechanism. Glass case pendulum desirable to see mechanism working. Are expensive when restored. Made in France 1920s - 1950s, approx 300,000 made. Bought on eBay after another sniper shootout early in the morning, the item from Spain.   My Belle clock, glass on all sides to show movement. Restored when bought. The dial is in very good ...
Read more

Suko Artempo Handless Clock c1990

Image
Significance Modern quartz clocks can be cute too! A novelty clock. Suko made a number of similar designs using the same principal. Description A novel design. Italian I think. The dial rotates around the spindle with the time indicated at the spindle. I think the white "hands" have been added as they are not on other clocks. A year 2000 clock is available but I have yet to get one. Source Ebay, Melbourne, Australia.
Read more