Swiss railway clock
The clock on the platform that can be seen from afar – and whose second hand waits at twelve.
Hans Hilfiker designed the clock for the Swiss railways in 1944. The red second hand was added in 1953 and resembles the signal disc used by the train dispatcher.
The second hand completes a circuit in just over 58 seconds and then waits at twelve for the signal from the master clock. In this way every clock at every station shows exactly the same time.
Materials: Steel, glass; red second hand
Manufacture: Controlled by a master clock that sends a pulse every minute.
Black batons instead of numerals.
The red second hand with a round disc, like the station master's signal.
The second hand goes round a little faster and stops briefly at twelve.
A white dial with thick black markers, black hands with straight edges and the red second hand with a round disc at its tip.
Since 1986 Mondaine has made wristwatches and wall clocks with the design under licence from the Swiss railways.