Hi guys,

A totally off topic post today. A close friend of mine restores and maintains public clocks for a living, and he recently restored this amazing piece of centenarian technology and made a quick video of it in operation. Here's his original description of the device:

"A Gents of Leicester 'Waiting Train' movement. Featuring an electrically energised pendulum swing and syncronisation to a 'Master Clock' every thirty seconds via a smaller solenoid that disengages drive to the hands every 28 seconds. The Waiting Train is another component in the 'Pulsynetic' range from Gents. Circa 1890. Designed to be powered by a 20v DC supply, this one is running from a Dell laptop PSU!"

Update 19/03/2012

Reader Chris B. offered the following information regarding the device:

The WT movement shown has features from both pre and post WW2. The WT was only invented around the turn of the century but this is a much later model.

To be slightly pedantic, the relay solenoid actually re-engages the drive to the clock hands. The drive is paused at 30 second intervals by a lever being lifted by a D-shaped pin on the ratchet wheel.

Thanks for contributing, Chris!

Update 21/03/2012

My restorer friend has added the following information:

Eagle eyed enthusiasts may have spotted but the ratchet does tend to continue to move the wheel after the lever has been lifted. This is not supposed to be the case, but the movement is purely a display piece now, and further work (specifically fine tuning) is limited by cost unfortunately.

And here's the accompanying video: