Read how time was decided at the observatory in the 1800s, http://leehite.org/
Preserving our global heritage for signaling time, prior to modern electronic methods, were time balls, time guns and time flaps that synchronized with the local astronomical observatory. First dropped in 1829 at Portsmouth, England, they remain today an ornamental and educational attraction in many locations around the world.

Special appreciation is expressed to Klause Huelse, from Germany, for making available to all of us his wonderful collection of pictures for time balls, time flaps and time guns. Please see his web site at http://www.leuchtturm-welt.net/HTML/T... for additional collections of historical pictures.