9.15

Clocks on Wheels

The increasing presence of automobiles created a market for clocks in motor vehicles. At first, the clocks were sold as accessories. Not until about 1960 were they included as a standard accessory that matched design of the vehicle. Special tachographs were developed for commercial vehicles. Speed, driving times and stationary periods of the vehicle are registered on diagram discs.

Until the 1960’s, a mechanical clock movement used to tick inside the case. It would usually be wound electrically. However, frost, heat and vibrations impaired rate stability.

Therefore, as from 1966, the Frankfurt company, VDO, made a quartz clock for automobiles. It took three years to develop it at a cost of 30 million Marks. VDO did, however, sold 30 million of them by 1984. The automobile clock by VDO was the world’s first quartz clock to be made in great numbers.