Pulse driver gets old clock ticking again!
Bring an old factory or station clock back to life with a pulse generator.
In the past, these so-called slave clocks were centrally controlled by a master clock. We have developed a piece of electronics that provides the pulses from a master clock, but on a smaller scale.
Pulse driver gets old clock ticking again!
Installation
In this video, we demonstrate how to connect a pulse generator.
Installation is easy. We provide a manual, mounting material, connection terminals, and a battery box with the package.
The dimensions of the pulse generator are approximately 65 x 40 x 20 mm (LxWxH).
The battery box measures 70 x 65 x 20 mm (LxWxH)
We have switched to a battery box without lid, the old one with the lid can still be seen in the video.
The different pulse drivers
Volta 12 / 24 Volt (German)
Pulse generator suitable for electric pulse clocks from CTW Siemens TN Pragotron Moser Baer Favag Bosch Inducta Nedklok Solari Udine Westerstrand IBM / Simplex and more...
Ampère 55mA (French)
Pulse generator for electric slave clocks from the French makers Brillié (Electrique Brillié) ATO Charvet-Delorme
Ampère 220/300mA (English)
Pulse generator for electric slave clocks from English clockmakers Gents (Gents of Leicester, Electric clock system) Magneta, Synchronome E.C.S. and Smiths
What time is it?
Time in the Netherlands: · You can find the current time for every location and time zone at time.is
Agenda
Saturday 21-11-2026 from 9:00 to 11:30 16th International Electric Clock Fair KVN
This small, friendly fair is organised by the Dutch clock society Klokkenvrienden Nederland.
Admission is free.
Location: Oosterkerk Zeist, Woudenbergseweg 44/Prof. Lorentzlaan 1, Zeist
Pulse driver, master clock, slave clock - how does it work?
Let's go back in time!
From the year 1850 onwards, there was a lot of experimentation with electricity. New knowledge about electromagnetism was emerging, and the first batteries were invented. Could a clock also work with electricity? Of course, that was also extensively tested.
Rails began connecting cities and trains started running. Through the electric telegraph, messages could reach people elsewhere. Both greatly accelerated the arrival of the electric clock.
However, for many years, the basis for precise timekeeping remained the mechanical pendulum clock. And so, the master clock made its entrance. One expensive and very precisely calibrated mechanical clock for the exact time, but electricity for its distribution.
With the addition of electricity, one master clock could make a whole series of slave clocks display the correct time.
The pulses on which all slave clocks move the hands are given by the master clock once every 30 or 60 seconds. The master clock itself runs on the second.
The signal that the master clock sends to the slave clocks via copper wire is an electrical pulse. The pulses are a time indication: the minute starts now. At the same time, they contain the energy to move the clock hands. Therefore, we have named our device, which can control a slave clock, a pulse driver
Note: A daughter clock has different names, they are also called slave clock or pulse clock. A mother clock is also called a master clock (from English) or a main clock (from the German “Hauptuhr”)
A coil, magnet, and electric current
The presence of a coil is a typical and essential characteristic of an electric slave clock. Recognize the coil, and it is immediately clear that it is a slave clock. One or two coils can be found in every movement.
Where there is a coil, there is a magnet. However, the magnet gets smaller as the clock gets newer. So, it became increasingly difficult to identify the magnet, but it is certainly always present.
The coil
A coil is nothing more than a cylinder of wound copper wire. Passing a current through it creates an electromagnetic field. Like magnetic poles repel each other, unlike poles attract. This allows a magnet placed in the field of the coil to move. Clock movements use these properties to turn electrical energy into mechanical force and move the hands.
So simple, yet so beautiful!
Note: No visible coil of wound copper wire? A coil is often wrapped in a protective casing. This has the additional advantage that the manufacturer can put some (technical) information on it. For example, how many turns of wire it contains, or for which voltage the coil is intended.
PTT clock with CTW movement
Dutch PTT clock with a movement by CTW (Carl Theodor Wagner). Usually 1 pulse per minute, but 1 every 30 seconds also occurs! Movement adjustable for 60, 48, and 24 volts...