Clocks by bus stops

Unashamedly purloined for another (Birmingham) forum : "As kids we used to hang around the Maypole terminus a lot. We used to be fascinated, watching the crews putting the big brass key into the clock and over the moon when the more indulgent ones would stamp the back of our hand with it" "I remember the Bundy clock at Saltley Gate on the Inner Circle No.8 route, and sometimes waiting five or so minutes for the driver to "clock in" if he was early" By the Villa Cross PH I also understand that Bundy's later became IBM!

Hi all In answering a question, if our only resorce is to go to another location so be it, if it supplies the answer to the question that was very sensibly asked. I do not believe that they were just for trams, as some were located outside of tram routes in B'ham. Where was the Maypole?

This is the clock on the corner of Jordan Well and Cox Street I mentioned earlier. Its huge size meant it was clearly visible from the bus stops fifty yards further on in Gosford Street. The pub incidentally was the Acorn Inn.

On the A435 Alcester Road, South Birmingham - due west of Solihull

Great photo - but it's just a clock - not a Bundy!

The only "Bundy" I know was "frazzled" in Florida, year 1989. Just thought I might diversify a bit. Could some one explain what a Bundy is please, and where it got its name from?

This wiki page will help

Hello I know that B'ham had loads at one time, but I could not remember them in Coventry, with the possible exception of Bedworth where I can remember a clock at the original bus terminus, but I do not know if it was a bundy clock. Norman remembers the conductor working a bundy clock somewhere.

Hi Philip. The clock in question was not as ornate as the one pictured on here, it was about 9/10 inches across and was mounted on angle iron brackets and was situated on Stoney Stanton Road just past Broad Street outbound outside the small place of worship that is still there. Also I have been informed by an elderly friend of mine that there was one in Longford Square. All the best. N.

Hi Norm, Have no fears. I am sure that what you described was a Bundy recording clock. It's just that I can't recall their use in Coventry. They were in effect an outdoor clocking in clock that wages offices used, but being outdoors had to be weather protected. I remember seeing a pic of one built into a wall & I will look to see if I can find it for you to see. In the meantime, have a look at Flickr. There are nearly two hundred pictures of them. This pic from Flickr shows one built into a wall in Scotland. Note the slot for either direction.

I think both Bedworth and Longford were tram terminals, so it would be logic for them to have Bundy clocks. most trackways were single track, with passing points at various stages. It would be essential for the trams to run to a schedule, and for drivers to complete their shifts, to prevent collisions etc, hence the need for the clocks. Its possible that some buses used them at a later date, but only because they were already there. I found this on the web re Bundy clock.

Hi Adrian & thank you. The link is fascinating as I have read it all.

Hi All, I also remember the clock at Longford Square. I never used the No.20 bus until I moved to Bedworth in 1966; so it must have still been there after this date. I never took that much notice of it (wish I had now), I just recall the bus driver getting out of his cab and doing something at the machine. I thought that he was clocking in!

I don't know what sort of clocks they were, but I've now ben informed that there were two clocks on the Bedworth route, outbound at Exhall and inbound at Longford. So there might have been one or two clocks on the Bell Green route also. It is interesting to note that both of these routes were tram routes until November 1940, so they may have been the only clocks ever used by Coventry buses. The other tram routes were considerably shorter. I have no information about when they ceased to be used. Judging by the times of service of my informants, they were certainly in use in 1956, but they had probably fallen into disuse by 1965. This is reinforced by my own experience. I can remember travelling frequently on the Bedworth run in 1965 and there was no instance of a bus stopping for the conductor to punch a ticket on a time clock. There was no intersecting service for the inspectors along the Bedworth route beyond Longford, although Service 6 via Walsgrave did intersect with the Bell Green route. By the mid 1960s, the inspectors had a car, so they could then check on the out of town routes without having to rely on intersecting services.

Thanks Cliff for the link. I have also read all the threads. I now know what a Bundy clock is but cannot remember ever seeing one. I used the buses a lot to explore Coventry going to all the termini but this would have been 1954-on, and later than the trams. Cheers for the info.