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Reviews For: Pennwood Numechron Tymeter

Category: Ham Shack Clocks

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Review Summary For : Pennwood Numechron Tymeter
Reviews: 8MSRP:
Description:
Motor driven digital "flip-style" clock
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0084.8
VE7ABC Rating: 2022-03-12
Flea Market Gem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought one of these at a Ham swap meet about 10 years ago. I didn't need another clock, but boy it had a certain look to it that I knew would look good on the operating desk. It was dirty and needed some cleaning, so with about 20 minutes of work it looked like new. I plugged it in, to see if worked and it has been working ever since. It does keep good time and has that classic look about it that other clocks I've got don't. Even if it quits working and I can't get it fixed, it will remain on the desk. Best 10 bucks I've ever spent on ham gear.
W9MT Rating: 2022-03-12
What every hamshack craved.... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had several of these in the nearly 52 years I've had my ham ticket. This little tombstone with the rotating number drums was the "must have" station clock that every ham worth his salt craved. Heathkit built a version into the SB-630 station counsel. Most of the standard clocks had luminous paint on the metal frame around the number window opening.

There were both 12 and 24 hour versions of this clock. Hams, of course, craved the 24 hour version. Even though the clear plastic bezel was labelled GMT, I always ran mine on local time. A popular mod was to put a normally closed momentary pushbutton switch in series with the AC line and as a "hack mechanism" to be released exactly when WWV hit the minute mark for precision down to the second. Your clock's time keeping accuracy was slaved to the 60Hz accuracy from your AC power provider. A brown out or full AC outage made you do your reset hack to WWV all over again.

Prior to hams adopting these clocks, they were marketed as "TV clocks" and were often perched on top of the telly in the living room.

I even owned a version with a laminated mahogany wood cabinet and 3/8" brass "globe" screw in feet. There were many varieties.

They all seem to die when their shaded pole 1rpm motors get tired after several decades. Replacement motors are made of unobtainium and have caused many-a-clock to be tossed in the circular file, or be disposed of as spare parts for someone who had bad number wheels. The best seconds wheels did not have the decals but the embossed and painted numbers every 5 seconds.

Yes, I miss the clicking of the wheel drums, but I won't be buying another one. Enjoy yours whilst it still works....I'm rating it only a 3 because it's just a clock...not bad but nothing special other than for nostalgia.
VULCANNOMAD Rating: 2018-06-30
Vintage Ham Clock Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This clock was a mainstay in my fathers Ham Shack through the 60's all the way up to 2002, when he passed away. I could kick myself for selling it. So I ended up purchasing the exact model on eBay and I'm glad I did. When I was a kid, I was fascinated withe the color second wheel. Back then they always had such a modern look compared to others. My father was saying they where so accurate. Always remembered the "click" when the cubes changed. Such cool looking clocks.
KK8ZZ Rating: 2011-09-04
Nostalgia from 1970's Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Was the first ham clock I had.. don't remember were I got it, maybe Allied Radio or Lafayette Radio? It was the only piece of gear that stayed with me though the 70's and 80's, died with a strange "melting" incident in 1983... so sad.. I loved to listen to the SB-102 and hear the "click" of the numerals sliding by... KK8ZZ
WA9OUE Rating: 2011-09-04
Still works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchase mine in 1965 when I got my novice license. It still is in use and proudly displayed next to my original novice station; HQ100 and Eico 723. Of course it looks great with the newest rigs I have.
former_N0JL Rating: 2011-09-04
Sold mine, but I know where it is! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had one for years! No problems... ever. Sold it in a trade. but.. I know who has it!
KD2E Rating: 2011-09-04
THE clock Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For shame, this clock only has 1 review!!!
For hams in the '60s, '70s...and I think the '50s also, this clock was THE most ubiquitous piece of ham gear there was. Look in any QST picture for DECADES...and there was one of these clocks sitting on every shack table. Next to an HRO, a National, Hammarlund, Collins or Heathkit..there was the Tymeter clock. Same movement in many station consoles, (Drake, Heath) it uses line current frequency for reference...so might drift a bit...A click as the numbers change each minute..but what a handsome looking single function ham accessory!!
Glad I still have a few of them!!
W0GLB Rating: 2008-07-03
Classic that still earns its keep Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When I was a novice back in 1975, all of the "real hams" had one. Nearly every picture of a shack in QST showed it there, nestled among all those old boatanchors. Got mine off of ebay for $25, keeps time like a champ (even has a 10-minute ID timer!). That deep brown bakelite case still looks like new money.