Good find Jon G. Thanks for posting.
The master clock was a master to slave clocks which were simple ratchet and pawl devices which were wired in series with each other and reacted to an electrical impulse supplied by the master every 30 seconds, thus the minute hand could be seen to jump forward every half minute and on every slave in the system. Many tower and ornamental clocks attached to the exterior of significant high street shops were slaves to a Synchronome master .
There were other time related devices such as you suggest Richard operating on the same principal to record employees attendance times which were either stand alone or attached to a master clock to ring school bells, sound factory tea breaks, etc.etc.etc... Enough already... (-:
