Editing Speaking clock (section)

{{Short description|Time of day voice service}}
{{trivia|date=November 2024}} 
[[File:1937TimeVoice.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|A human speaking clock{{which|date=October 2018}} prior to the introduction of automated equipment, October 1937]]
[[File:Announcement NoTimeGiven NewEnglandTelephoneTelegraph CambridgeTribule CambridgeTribune 1918June08.png|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Newspaper notice (1918) warning telephone subscribers that New England Telephone & Telegraph Company operators will soon refuse to provide time of day on subscriber request]]

A '''speaking clock''' or '''talking clock''' is a live or recorded human voice service, usually accessed by telephone, that gives the correct [[time]]. The first telephone speaking clock service was introduced in [[France]], in association with the [[Paris Observatory]], on 14 February 1933.<ref name=Syrte>{{Cite web|url=https://syrte.obspm.fr/spip/services/ref-temps/article/l-horloge-parlante-officielle-francaise-de-l-observatoire-de-paris?lang=fr|title=L'horloge parlante officielle française de l'Observatoire de Paris|website=syrte.obspm.fr}}</ref>

The format of the service is similar to that of radio [[time signal]] services. At set intervals (''e.g.'' ten seconds) a voice announces (for example) "At the third stroke, the time will be twelve forty-six and ten seconds……", with three beeps following. Some countries have sponsored time announcements and include the sponsor's name in the message.