QE2's Clocks

[cunardqueen]

On the Final Atlantic crossing during dinner it came up in conversation about the ships clocks. Our host that night admitted he actually had  a broken one in his ownership . All my charm and wit was wasted trying to find out how one might be obtained legally.

 Sadly it way annoying to see some of clocks had markings to indicate attempts to remove them had failed, the host did mention that all the spares had been used up and they are actually wired in which makes removing then dangerous. Not to mention in recent months the clocks had been firmly screwed onto the walls.

Personally l found the idea to remove actual fittings from QE2 was dispicable. Its one thing to take a side plate, but to remove the fixings is to remove part of her soul.
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[highlander0108]

On the Final Atlantic crossing during dinner it came up in conversation about the ships clocks. Our host that night admitted he actually had  a broken one in his ownership . All my charm and wit was wasted trying to find out how one might be obtained legally.

 Sadly it way annoying to see some of clocks had markings to indicate attempts to remove them had failed, the host did mention that all the spares had been used up and they are actually wired in which makes removing then dangerous. Not to mention in recent months the clocks had been firmly screwed onto the walls.

Personally l found the idea to remove actual fittings from QE2 was dispicable. Its one thing to take a side plate, but to remove the fixings is to remove part of her soul.
 

We were chatting last night about this clock and although we joked about it, I can't believe someone actually tried to unbolt it..  I think they should sell them in the gift shops onboard.  I probably could make one for myself though using an off the shelf battery operated clock as a base.

[richc1977]

Those clocks were also on A Stairway, but did anyone venture down to 5 deck on G-Stairway?

A rather modern digital clock (reminds me of those LED display things in banks, post offices and doctors surgeries).

I attach a screendump from my website virtual tour as I can't find the original for now.  And yes the time is 05:49am.  I must have been mad as I'd already been up over an hour taking pictures by that point!

Maybe the original was taken?  Or does anyone know that it has been there for a while?

[cunardqueen]

I can only imagine those LED clocks were put in place to cover up the space left behind when a clock was stolen or damaged.

[Rob Lightbody]

On QM1 & QE1, the clocks were all connected to a central control, so they could all be advanced/retarted at the same time.  Did QE2 have this too, originally?  She had those mechanical-digital clocks originally, didn't she?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

A rather modern digital clock (reminds me of those LED display things in banks, post offices and doctors surgeries).
Maybe the original was taken?  Or does anyone know that it has been there for a while?

I never saw one of the round QE2 clocks at a lift in this sort of position. I wonder whether this was one of the original digital clocks mentioned by Rob?

On QM1 & QE1, the clocks were all connected to a central control, so they could all be advanced/retarded at the same time.  Did QE2 have this too, originally?

That might be the answer to my unspoken question! Even though I was always a night owl on QE2, wandering round the ship when most others were well tucked up in bed, never once did I see anyone doing the rounds to change the clocks to the next day's ship time. If the clocks were all wired up, as Myles writes here, then presumably they could be reset in this way...

Hopefully, we shall find out!

[cunardqueen]

I cant imagine in this day and age a person going round changing the clocks at every time change. Surely this would have been done automatically, Besides has anyone ever noticed the clocks changing in the small hours. In my early days the clocks were advanced/retarded at 4am

One such crossing with an afternoon arrival in Southampton the clock were advanced 2 hours at l think 1pm, l do recall feeling so cheated out of the time.

[Louis De Sousa]

The clocks are central controled.

Louis

[Rob Lightbody]

The clocks are central controled.
Louis

So I presume that means that all the stolen QE2 clocks in people's homes will not operate?

[cunardqueen]

NOT that lm an expert in that matter, But surely the insides could be removed and one of those modern battery operated systems could be inserted.

[Jem]

As a horologist,(retired due to ill health) in factorys, bus/train stations and I assume ships. There was a Master clock and attached to this mechinisum all the other clocks were connected known as Slaves. The Master clock governed the accuracy of all the Slaves. By adjusting the Master clocks time all the others would alter at the same time. Which is why you'd never see anyone manually adjusting the others. The Slaves could operate on there own provided they had a power source but their accuracy could not be governed.

I have an old Ships Bulkhead Clock I bought at auction a number of years ago, which I repaired, and I often find myself looking at it and thinking 'Where have you travelled in your 100 years?'

[Jem]

NOT that lm an expert in that matter, But surely the insides could be removed and one of those modern battery operated systems could be inserted.

Yes that is possible, it's called retro-fitting. I'm from the old 'Horology School' once and old clock has lost it's original machinical mechinsm and been fitted with a Quartz govement, it's lost it's soul.

[Rob Lightbody]

One of the original mechanical-digital clocks can be seen in Bob's photo here -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33120597@N03/3451256117/

(you can zoom in if you log in - its 9:52!)

[Chris]

On the Final Atlantic crossing during dinner it came up in conversation about the ships clocks. Our host that night admitted he actually had  a broken one in his ownership . All my charm and wit was wasted trying to find out how one might be obtained legally.

 Sadly it way annoying to see some of clocks had markings to indicate attempts to remove them had failed, the host did mention that all the spares had been used up and they are actually wired in which makes removing then dangerous. Not to mention in recent months the clocks had been firmly screwed onto the walls.

Personally l found the idea to remove actual fittings from QE2 was dispicable. Its one thing to take a side plate, but to remove the fixings is to remove part of her soul.
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These clocks in your photograph were added during "Project Lifestyle" - you can clearly see the tri-colour speed stripe under the lettering... fantastic shot!

[Twynkle]

And from another topic - there's an image of the dot-matrix clock on Deck 4,  E Stairway, beside the lift doors.
Is this clock a recent addition?
Reply No. 3
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