Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MISCELLANEOUS
ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS TIME
MARKINGS AND CODES
Almost every item produced by the G.P.O. had a code Table 1 below lists the codes from manufactures
marking. This is very useful when trying to find out more associated with the supply of clocks and watches.
about it. As far as clock related items go, there are two
types of markings. The earlier type was used up until the CODE MANUFACTURER
late 1930’s. Anything produced after this period came
with a revised marking. BAU Heuer Watches
BK Magneta Time Co. Ltd.
Earlier Type - Below is an example of an earlier type BKB Magneta Time Co. Ltd.
marking. BQ Stockhall Marples & Co.
BQB Stockhall Marples & Co.
BT Prescot clock & Mechanical Co.
DC 27 BTR Blibk Time Recorders Ltd.
235 DC
DCA
Synchronome Co. Ltd, Middlesex
Synchronome Co. Ltd, Middlesex
Here, ‘DC’ (Can be one, two or three letters.) is the SYN Synchronome Co. (Late production)
manufactures code. Referring to Table 1, we see that this
clock was manufactured by the Synchronome Company. ECS English Clock Systems (Smith’s)
’27’ (1927) is the year of manufacture. The ‘No 4’ is the EFW F.W. Elloit
items model number. This code was stamped on a clock, EN The British Time Recorder Co. Ltd.
it therefore tells us that we are looking at a Clock No. 4. ENA The British Time Recorder Co. Ltd.
Generally, the original marking is intact, but there are ‘F’ at the end and this additional letter was specific to
occasions where it has been either partly or completely telephones. The ‘F’ meant that the dial had figures
obscured. This usually occurred if the item was returned (numbers only) whereas an ‘L” would denote a dial with
to the G.P.O.’s Factories Division to be refurbished, letters and figures.
rebuilt or repaired, especially if the item was upgraded to
a newer version or model. Now we will examine the later type markings. In Fig. 3
we can see the marking on the back of a Clock No. 62A.
First, we will take a look at a couple of examples of the In this case, there is also the owner’s initials, ‘G.P.O.’
earlier markings., the first of which is shown in Fig. 1. Below this is the main marking, starting with the model
Gillet & Johnston made this early No. 4 clock, and they No. which in this case is ‘62A’ .
have obviously got away by using their own ‘G&J’ stamp
for the manufacturers code, instead of the specified
letters ‘GJ’!
Fig. 3
Well that was the easy part, but now it becomes a little
more complicated. Take a look at Fig. 6 below, and you
will see what i mean!
Fig. 7
Page 3
Issue 3, Sep. 2012
P.O. ENGINEERING DEPT. MISCELLANEOUS
ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS TIME
MARKINGS AND CODES
END
Page 4
Issue 3, Sep. 2012