The Years When Knowing the Time Was Difficult

In the early twentieth century, knowing what time it was was not as simple as looking at a mobile phone today. Determining the exact time and second of the day required astronomical observations, star positions, and highly precise mathematical calculations. Therefore, "true time" was not information accessible to everyone.

At that time, the world's official time was determined by the Greenwich Royal Observatory in England. The basis of the time standard we now know as "Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)" was also laid there. However, to access this precise time, one had to physically go to Greenwich.

London's Dependence on Time

After the Industrial Revolution, London had become one of the centers of trade, banking, and transportation.

For many institutions such as:

• Banks

• Insurance companies

• Railway companies

• Port operators

even minutes or seconds could create significant financial differences. An incorrectly set clock could lead to train accidents, financial errors, or contractual disputes.

However, it was neither practical nor possible for every business to send an employee to Greenwich.

The Woman Who Brought Time to Your Feet: Ruth Belville

It was at this point that one of history's most unusual professions emerged: time-selling.

Ruth Belville (1854–1943) successfully continued an unusual business she inherited from her father for years. Her father, John Henry Belville, worked at the Greenwich Observatory and was the first to implement the idea of delivering the official time determined by the observatory directly to clients.

Ruth Belville turned this business into an indispensable service for modern London.

Arnold: More Than Just a Watch

At the center of Ruth's work was an extremely precise pocket watch she called "Arnold." This watch:

• Was set every morning at the Greenwich Royal Observatory

• Was shown directly to clients in London throughout the day

Ruth would go to her clients' offices, take out Arnold, and enable them to set their clocks according to the official Greenwich time. In return for this service, she received a regular fee.

In fact, Ruth Belville was performing live time synchronization as we understand it today—and without the internet, radio signals, or electronic devices.

A Business That Survived Despite Technology

In the early 20th century, time transmission via telegraph and radio signals began to become possible. Despite this, many companies continued to use Ruth Belville's service because:

• They distrusted mechanical systems

• Radio signals were not yet widespread

• Arnold's accuracy was proven

In fact, although Ruth was criticized by some rivals for "defending old methods," she continued her business until the 1940s thanks to customer trust.

The Value of Time and the Human Factor

Ruth Belville's story is not just an interesting occupational tale. It also very strikingly demonstrates:

• The importance of time in the modern world

• How information was distributed before technology

• An era when human trust came before machines

Today, we use atomic clocks that synchronize within seconds. But only a century ago, London's time was set by a watch in a woman's pocket.

Ruth Belville and Arnold's story proves that time was not just a measured value but also a service that could be sold, transported, and relied upon with trust. Before the foundations of modern technology were laid, the value of accurate information was paramount.

Perhaps today, when we look at our watches, remembering these human stories behind them makes time more meaningful.