King's Cross 24 hour clock

[timmydunn]

I can't think of any others (top of my head) - but does anyone know exactly why the clock on Platform 1 has the 24 hour clock on it?
How old the clock is I don't know; it's poss the non-roman numerals were added later as they are in Gill Sans type.

 

[Bayum]

Because people think the 24hr clock is difficult to learn.

 

[Gareth]

The numerals look like a relatively recent addition to me.

Whoever made that decision deserves a slap.

 

[edwin_m]

I can't think of any others (top of my head) - but does anyone know exactly why the clock on Platform 1 has the 24 hour clock on it?
How old the clock is I don't know; it's poss the non-roman numerals were added later as they are in Gill Sans type.

View attachment 104645

I saw the same, rather more elegantly done, in your programme on Stockholm Central!

Vasagatan - Google Maps

 

[Western Sunset]

But they never use 24.00 in the timetables do they? Usually goes from 23.59 to 00.01.

 

[yorkie]

But they never use 24.00 in the timetables do they? Usually goes from 23.59 to 00.01.

True but that does not preclude putting it on a clock

 

[Darandio]

Given they are red is it not a Virgin era intervention? Incredibly crass though.

Edit*

Seems not, they were there wayyyy before that. Still don't like it though.

 

[John Webb]

The clock on the Waterloo concourse was dealt with rather more delicately (click on picture to go to the original on the Geograph site):
Time to go home

© Copyright Sandy B and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

[AlbertBeale]

The clock on the Waterloo concourse was dealt with rather more delicately (click on picture to go to the original on the Geograph site):
Time to go home

© Copyright Sandy B and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Does this one have 00 rather than 24 in the additional numbers?

I can't think of any others (top of my head) - but does anyone know exactly why the clock on Platform 1 has the 24 hour clock on it?
How old the clock is I don't know; it's poss the non-roman numerals were added later as they are in Gill Sans type.

View attachment 104645

I'm not sure that is Gill Sans ... are you certain?? Doesn't look quite right to me.

 

[jfowkes]

I'm not sure that is Gill Sans ... are you certain?? Doesn't look quite right to me.

We're at the risk of combining font and train nerdery, which I think is prohibited under international law, but I think you're right. The strokes on the 6 and 9 are noticeably curved in Gill Sans and they're pretty straight on the clock.

 

[Nottingham59]

From the overall style of the red numbers, do they date from when British Rail converted from am/pm timetables to the 24-hour clock? Late sixties or early seventies, I think.

 

[AngusH]

Shouldn't it be

XIII

through

XXIV

though?

 

[timmydunn]

We're at the risk of combining font and train nerdery, which I think is prohibited under international law, but I think you're right. The strokes on the 6 and 9 are noticeably curved in Gill Sans and they're pretty straight on the clock.

You’re right - and there’s something displeasing about the 2 as well. I tho o I’ve made a half-arsed assumption and frankly the full weight of the Helvetica Treaty should be invoked against me. Fair cop, guv.

I have contacted Smith of Derby who repaired the other clock in 2013 - over on P8 - to see if they know of any reason why the p1 clock gained extra numerals

 

[John Webb]

Does this one [the Waterloo clock] have 00 rather than 24 in the additional numbers?....

Looks like it!

 

[swt_passenger]

Looks like it!

I just had a quick Google and there doesn’t seem any consistency amongst manufacturers - I‘d choose 00 if only because for the first hour in the 24 hr system times are always referred to as 00xx.

 

[PeterC]

How old is the clock? My first thought was that they might have been were added when the railway adopted the 24 hour clock.

There was a patronising belief at the time that 24 hour times were too complicated for older people. That being the generation who had done military service.

 

[Bayum]

Shouldn't it be

XIII

through

XXIV

though?

No, because the 13 represents 1pm. The Roman numeral represents 1 regardless whereas 13 represents 1pm in the afternoon.

How old is the clock? My first thought was that they might have been were added when the railway adopted the 24 hour clock.

There was a patronising belief at the time that 24 hour times were too complicated for older people. That being the generation who had done military service.

judging by the number of people that actually struggle with adding/subtracting twelve to convert the 24hr clock I’m not so sure it’s patronising!

 

[Nottingham59]

They weren't there in the fifties: https://flashbak.com/a-pictorial-history-of-kings-cross-station-11359/
See the fifh image from the end of the main article.

 

[AngusH]

No, because the 13 represents 1pm. The Roman numeral represents 1 regardless whereas 13 represents 1pm in the afternoon.

Oh I see what you mean, I didn't explain my thought very well.


My thought was to use Roman numerals for both the first 12 hours (I to XII)
and also for the second twelve hours (XIII to XXIV)

Rather than Roman numerals (1 to XII) and Arabic numerals (13-24)

It would not aid comprehension in any way, but would be consistent.

(Perhaps a silly thought)

 

[Tio Terry]

From memory, the clock was overhauled in the late 1970's, it had been out of use for some time leading up to that. The red numbers were added at that time, but I have no idea why. They are what was know at that time as "BR Corporate" which was the typeface used on the silk screen printed flap indicator boards at that time.

 

[AngusH]

In that timeframe, it seems odd that it doesn't use the Railway Alphabet typeface. Though maybe this was forbidden for this type of modification?


Although I think I remember that the BR design guide book standard clock face didn't actually have numbers at all.

 

[Tio Terry]

In that timeframe, it seems odd that it doesn't use the Railway Alphabet typeface. Though maybe this was forbidden for this type of modification?


Although I think I remember that the BR design guide book standard clock face didn't actually have numbers at all.

It's quite simple really. The digits were added by the same people who printed the flaps, so they used the same typeface.

 

[AngusH]

It's quite simple really. The digits were added by the same people who printed the flaps, so they used the same typeface.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.