Shanghai’s Speaking Clock

I’m old enough to remember when, in a pre  digital age, we used to check all the clocks in the house and all the wristwatches were right by calling up the old GPO’s Speaking Clock. Now, apparently, most people rely on their mobile phones and computers for the time and watches are on their way to becoming either open displays of wealth or quaint reminders of the old days!

Shanghai of course was at the cutting edge and in the late 1930s The Shanghai Telephone Company already had its own speaking clock – just call 95678. Not sure if it was all pre-recorded or involved a woman with a nice voice and a decent watch whenever anyone called.