International Time Recorder of Endicott, New York. A time clock. 224038.
This time recorder, originally designed to track employee hours, has a rich history that often piques the interest of history enthusiasts and vintage collectors. Once a staple in company offices, it now finds its place in modern homes, adding a touch of nostalgia. As an employee, you would 'punch' in or out using your assigned time card, a practice that has evolved over time but still holds a certain charm.
First, move the horizontal lever in the lower section of the case to the left so that the pointer in the window above it reads, “MORNING / IN.” You will notice that this example has six positions. Insert your assigned time card in the slot above. Then, depress the handle to the right. By depressing the handle, the mechanism inside the case records the current time via a stamp over an ink ribbon onto your card. This ribbon is very similar to the ones used in typewriters. If you are on time, it will print in blue or black. If you are late, the time will be stamped on your card in red. You would then take your card out and put it in the card storage rack, which is usually mounted aside the clock. When you leave for lunch, the first lever needs to be adjusted one position to the right. The pointer in the window will read, “MORNING / OUT.” Place your card in the slot and stamp it again. This process would be repeated when you returned from lunch and left for the day. This clock also has the option to record one’s over time. If you were to return after dinner, you could slide the lever to the right of “AFTERNOON / Out” to “OVERTIME / IN.” At the end of each week, the company’s accountant would collect the cards and tally the hours worked. One would be paid accordingly.
Rest assured, this time recorder is in excellent condition, a testament to its robust construction and the care it has received over the years. Despite its age and the environment in which it was used, the clock has been well-preserved, making it a valuable addition to any collection.
The robustly built case is constructed in solid oak, and the finish is excellent. All the access doors can be locked with a key. The lower section houses the time-recording mechanism. Here the two levers for recording your time and the time of day adjustment are located. A fancy casting transitions the case to the upper section. Most time clocks are less decorative than this one. This heavy casting features vines and the manufacturer’s name, “INTERNATIONAL.” Two windows, both covered with clear plastic, are located in this section. The lower window has been discussed above. The upper window will display the day of the week and AM or PM.
The upper door retains the original painted graphics of the manufacturing company. It reads, “MANUFACTURED BY / INTERNATIONAL/ TIME RECORDING CO., / OF NEW YORK.” This detail is usually missing.
The dial is in wonderful original condition and lists the manufacturer’s name and working location. Again, the manufacturer’s name and trademark are located here. The hours are displayed in Arabic numerals along a segmented minute ring. Spade-shaped hands display the time. Wind indicators are located on the dial. The clock is fully wound when the arrows are positioned at the top of their slots. Over a week, the arrows will work their way to the bottom of the slots, indicating the clock should be rewound.
The time-only movement is brass and powered by two large steel springs. Once fully wound, the clock runs for eight days. The movement also powers the lower time tracking mechanism through a steel shaft or PTO. This shaft can be seen through the glass door and is positioned in front of the nickel-plated pendulum bob, supported by a wooden rod.
Also inside the case are a couple of Tags. One discusses the importance of keeping the clock clean and the ink ribbon. The other is an advertisement of where one can get supplies for the clock.
This clock was made circa 1915.
The case is approximately 48.25 inches long, 17 inches wide, and 7.75 inches deep.
Inventory number 224038.
The International Time Recording Company's business office was located at 50 Broad Street in Endicott, New York, between 1901 and 1924. During this period, this firm continuously expanded its product line, underwent several reorganizations and name changes, and emerged in 1924 as the International Business Machine Corporation, familiar today as IBM. Some of the companies it acquired include the Chicago Time Register Company, Day Time Register Company, The Syracuse Time Recording Company, Bundy, Willard & Frick, and Standard.
As many businesses became larger and wages more competitive, workers' attendance records became very important to their employers. As a result, time clocks were introduced to this environment to help track one's punctuality. Workers were then paid based on the number of hours they had logged in. This became the expected behavior toward the end of the 19th century. This is really a result of the shift from self-employment towards working for others. With this change came the advent of cost accounting. In other words, they analyzed and scrutinized expenses such as labor, materials, and overhead. Time was money. By approximately 1915, nearly every industrial workplace and office had a time clock. By the early twentieth century, several companies, like the International Time Recording Company, supplied an entire line of timekeeping devices, including master clocks and their slave units, various models of time clocks, and time stamps.
