European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 12, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Bob Hoyer is . Bureau chief when britons turned their clock ahead for the last time in february one clock remained unchanged the famous 24-hour timepiece at the old Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Mounted just outside the Observatory Gates the clock serves As a reminder that Greenwich mean time get continues to be the Standard for navigators astronomers and meteorologists across the Globe. This fact alone provides some idea of the contributions made by British scientists during nearly three centuries of observation and calculation at Greenwich the Small maritime Village outside Lon Don. Even though Britain has gone of Greenwich time to conform with Continental Europe and has moved the Royal Observatory to a less crowded site the Greenwich Meridian continues to be the basis for time and Longitude measure ments throughout the  keeping with its importance the site of the original Royal Observatory at Greenwich now is open to the Public As a Section of the National maritime museum. Through a visit to the site it s possible to Trace the emergence of Greenwich time. He Story began in 1675, when Charles ii founded the Royal Observatory and directed sir Christopher Wren most famous architect of the Day to de sign the building on High ground in Greenwich  a growing maritime Power Brit Ain was in need of More accurate an Complete navigational data for her sea men who were exploring the world an moving into the void created by the de Cline of  the time he created the Observatory Charles named John Flamsteed the first astronomer Royal a position he held until 1719. Since then 10 me have served As astronomer Royal. Of tritons turned their clocks the id or tin1 last time in fein nary. Perhaps the most Iii Plant eve establishing Greenwich time As a Standard was the publication in 171the first nautical almanac an event Ever  going Strong after More than years it was this almanac based on Greenwich Meridian which caused gators to begin measuring Long East or West from Greenwich. Makers and Chart makers so onto follow suit. But before Greim Meh Tim Universal time it first was adopt the time Standard for All of Bri difficult As it May seem to the tin scions 20th Century mind ther Standard time even on i National until Well into the 19th Century. Prior to establishment of a Nab time each town kept its own time was based on the Sun. A Cliffered. There was Standard time until in the 19th Century Page 12 is Hunter special doors and roof open to take transit measurements of Sun the stars and stripes just a  meant n different the difference Between London Ai Mouth was 16 minutes. It was the growth of British that created the need for a u time across the country and to Telegraph provided the Means the ". In 1852 an electric Dork was in at Greenwich and the 24-hour a was mounted. Besides Oon trog Gate clock and the Greenwich unil erected in 1833 atop the of of so ships in the River could the chronometer this master trolled a clock at Londo lion four Miles away Ana at the offices of the a Aster co. By this Means Roe time became  throughout it soon became obvious to be coordinated not Only country but throughout the 51884 it was decided at a to ence in Washington that to passing through the or s p re t u 8 v jts v & the Royal Observatory in 1676, centuries before smoke and pollution forced it to move from Greenwich to Herstmonceux. At Greenwich should be the prime Mer Idian in the world Longitude Zero and the basis of the International Tim system. Paving the Way for this decision were two facts. Seventy two percent of the world s shipping tonnage already use Greenwich charts and the vast North american railway system operated Ona Lime zone system keyed to Greenwich. Only Ireland which continued to operate on Dublin time until 1916, an France which kept a time # 9 minutes,21 seconds different from the Meridian of Paris failed to ratify the Washington agreement but in the Case of France the 9 21 difference actually coincide with Greenwich. In 1924 British broadcasting Corpora Tion began airing a six Pip signal through the United kingdom and starting three continued on a Fie Ufa Early observers established that Sun was not a regular timekeeper. Shepherd i Patentee clock at Entrance has shown get since 1852. The stars and stripes Page 13