I
very much enjoyed
the article.
Great information. This is something that I have thought about for quite some
time. My question is how do I re-synchronize my watch to the proper time if I
forget and let it die overnight? Thanks for the awesome blog and all the
insight. – MRM
HJL
Replies:
There are a variety of ways that you can use to determine the time without
another watch, some more accurate than others. A Google search will reveal at
least 20 different ways. There are two that I remember right off the cuff, but
you have to remember that there are inaccuracies that will seep into it.
Absolute accuracy isn’t as important as synchronization with members of your
group or other objects. As long as everyone using the time uses the same time,
the inaccuracies don’t matter.
Use the sun. When the sun is at its highest
point in the sky (or directly above you), it’s 1200 (hence, the term “High
Noon”).
Use the North Star and Ursa Major (the
big dipper). This only works in the northern hemisphere. Find the North Star
and Ursa Major. The two stars on the dipper portion of Ursa Major line up with
the North Star. Think of this picture as a clock face (12 on top, 3 to the
right, 6 on bottom, 9 to the left of the North Star). The two stars that line
up are an hour hand. Find the “raw” time by locating where on the clock face
the two stars are. On March 7th, Ursa Major will be exactly at 0000 on
midnight. You can add one hour for every month after March 7th. (Or, you can
subtract one hour for every month before March 7th.) For example, if Ursa Major
is at 0200 on April 7th, the time will be 0300. Then you double the time for
the actual time. If the doubled time is more than 24, subtract the number from
48. The resultant number is military time for your location. You can get as
accurate as you can envision the clock face and calculate months or partial
months. Every 5 days will amount to about 10 minutes. (To be precise, you will
add or subtract two minutes for every day after or before March 7th.)
Both
methods will give you planetary time based on your location, which will not
necessarily coordinate with your time zone. Just look at a time zone map of the
world and you will see why. If your goal is absolute time with regards to UTC,
you will have to calculate time with regard to your position within your time
zone, as well as adjustments for seasonal variance.
o o
o
XXXX
I
enjoyed KT’s article on time pieces for SHTF. As a clock repairman and admirer
of fine watches, I can say he has put a lot of thought into his entry. There is
value in high-dollar watches, probably a much better investment than paper
dollars!
I am
a pocket watch guy and prefer the gentleman grade, Swiss movement of 17 to 21
jewels, stem wind stem set. Rail road watches are synonymous with “don’t drop
them!” I own several good mechanical wrist watches and two Seiko battery
watches. Plus, I keep a cigar box with some old watches as trade goods.
As
to clocks, the Atmos is a high dollar clock and very collectible; sadly, there
are some clock repairmen who will not repair them, as they require special
tools to work on and are exotic in their atmospheric winding. Happily a good
quality time only, 8 day, weight driven, long pendulum, wall clock with a fine
threaded regulating nut on the bottom of the pendulum bob will probably keep
better time and be much easier to keep running then the rotary pendulum Atmos.
At
any rate for SHTF times, have both a battery clock and a mechanical clock you
like and trust. Have several (the rule of 3) wind up pocket or wrist watches
that suit your needs and station in life. (They are a status thing.) Sincerely
– A.M.
From the Survival
Blog
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