The greatest clock (and map) ever made(?)
June 5, 2024 3:17 AM Subscribe
A twenty minute youtube video with a bit of history and a breakdown and restoration of a Geochron Global Time Indicator, possibly the most comprehensive and over-engineered electromechanical clock and map assembly in history!
This was great, except when he made custom clamps to transfer the locations of mounting holes. TRACING PAPER. DUDE. Anyway, one of my friends bought a Geochron in the 90s and he was so proud and joyous about it. It was, indeed, cool.
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:37 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:37 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
The fancy map store near Pike Place Market has a vintage one for sale at over $2000 dollars. It looks so cool but I suspect someone has written a screensaver for a Pi that could replicate the experience for a more affordable price.
At least I hope so.
posted by funkaspuck at 4:54 AM on June 5
At least I hope so.
posted by funkaspuck at 4:54 AM on June 5
“So we turn now to one of the more reputable sources of information left to us today: XKCD”
Well, I was enjoying the video up to there (5:21), but yes, now I'm really invested in it.
posted by ambrosen at 4:58 AM on June 5
Well, I was enjoying the video up to there (5:21), but yes, now I'm really invested in it.
posted by ambrosen at 4:58 AM on June 5
> screensaver
Geochron sell a dongle that reproduces the effect on any HD/4K TV you plug it into, with additional layers and functions.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:03 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
Geochron sell a dongle that reproduces the effect on any HD/4K TV you plug it into, with additional layers and functions.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:03 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
It looks so cool but I suspect someone has written a screensaver for a Pi that could replicate the experience for a more affordable price.
It's called HamClock! It runs on a Pi 0! I believe it's more customizable and information dense, but not as refined in some ways, and definitely lacking in the design department. Whether or not that has anything to do with the Ham Radio community it was born from is anyone's guess. Geochron also sells a stick-pc of some sort that will recreate the classic display for a low low $499 + unspecified annual subscription.
The father of a high school friend of mine (who would later go on to become a roommate) had an enormous mechanical Geochron over a big couch in his, um, open-air man-cave area. Mantechamber? You could walk in, there was no door. Everything smelled like leather. I loved watching that thing.
posted by 1024 at 5:05 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]
It's called HamClock! It runs on a Pi 0! I believe it's more customizable and information dense, but not as refined in some ways, and definitely lacking in the design department. Whether or not that has anything to do with the Ham Radio community it was born from is anyone's guess. Geochron also sells a stick-pc of some sort that will recreate the classic display for a low low $499 + unspecified annual subscription.
The father of a high school friend of mine (who would later go on to become a roommate) had an enormous mechanical Geochron over a big couch in his, um, open-air man-cave area. Mantechamber? You could walk in, there was no door. Everything smelled like leather. I loved watching that thing.
posted by 1024 at 5:05 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]
Now I am deeply tempted to try and implement a version of this to run locally on Home Assistant but I know it would just end up looking like the Janus Satellite Control Centre from GoldenEye because deep down that's what I really want.
Wait that's not a reason to stop
posted by 1024 at 5:20 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
Wait that's not a reason to stop
posted by 1024 at 5:20 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
What do you call this style of thing? Later than midcentury, but not "we put a computer in a different box." Is there a word for it? It's so recognizable.
posted by mittens at 6:58 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
posted by mittens at 6:58 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
mittens: "What do you call this style of thing? Later than midcentury, but not "we put a computer in a different box." Is there a word for it? It's so recognizable."
"Space age"? Maybe not what you're going for.
posted by adamrice at 7:35 AM on June 5
"Space age"? Maybe not what you're going for.
posted by adamrice at 7:35 AM on June 5
Dare we call its design style "New Frontier"? ( With apologies to JFK, and a nod to Donald Fagan.)
posted by ReferenceDesk at 7:36 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
posted by ReferenceDesk at 7:36 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
I use Xplanet to set a similar view on my Mac desktop because I haven't been able to convince myself that spending the ~$3000 is worth it, even though I've coveted one since I saw one more than 30 years ago.
(If you look at Xplanet, it still works, but isn't maintained and has a learning curve. This blog was a good resource for me.)
posted by Ickster at 8:18 AM on June 5
(If you look at Xplanet, it still works, but isn't maintained and has a learning curve. This blog was a good resource for me.)
posted by Ickster at 8:18 AM on June 5
On a different note, I really need to remember that it's possible to make FPPs here and not just comment. So often I see an FPP about something I loved that I'd already read/watched.
posted by Ickster at 8:20 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]
posted by Ickster at 8:20 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]
I will definitely be taking a look at HamClock and Xplanet, thanks for the heads-up. I'd never heard of a geochron before this video, so it's cool to see people's stories of where they came across them.
So often I see an FPP about something I loved that I'd already read/watched.
Same! I am bad at remembering that I can post cool stuff here too, but there's almost always people who appreciate it, even if there isn't always much discussion.
posted by Dysk at 8:33 AM on June 5
So often I see an FPP about something I loved that I'd already read/watched.
Same! I am bad at remembering that I can post cool stuff here too, but there's almost always people who appreciate it, even if there isn't always much discussion.
posted by Dysk at 8:33 AM on June 5
→ [HamClock]
Probably. The average ham radio UX is MOAR STUFF ON SCREEN ALWAYS. It's very busy. HamClock's gonna have fun now most systems are on Wayland
The reason for having a Geochron - shortwave propagation - has almost totally gone away for most folks.
posted by scruss at 8:55 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]
definitely lacking in the design department. Whether or not that has anything to do with the Ham Radio community ...
Probably. The average ham radio UX is MOAR STUFF ON SCREEN ALWAYS. It's very busy. HamClock's gonna have fun now most systems are on Wayland
The reason for having a Geochron - shortwave propagation - has almost totally gone away for most folks.
posted by scruss at 8:55 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]
When you deal with pinball machines from this era the term "electromechanical" is used a lot since it's not yet computer-driven, but it's also more sophisticated than a relay or two. There are stepped motors, timing gears, etc.
I always lusted after the Geochron that was for sale at Abt. It's a beautiful thing.
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:42 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
I always lusted after the Geochron that was for sale at Abt. It's a beautiful thing.
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:42 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
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posted by HearHere at 4:02 AM on June 5 [2 favorites]