| Information: | This machine was, as far as we know, not built by BTR but rebranded at some time in its history. One version is that this dial recorder, or wheel type clocking in Machine is a dressed up IBM Dey Time Register with a different brand name. The story goes that a company involved in reconditioning other makes then rebranded them.
However the most likely explanation is this:
BTR had a business relationship with National Time Recorder Company, whereby they sold NTR machines under the BTR and BeTaR names. The second photo shows an original NTR machine for comparison, it is virtually identical apart from the branding.
Some background information:
This type of dial recorder was invented in Glasgow by Alexander Dey, patented in 1888
He and his brother John began manufacturing the machines in New York from 1893, forming the Dey Time Register Company in 1900
The International Time Recording Company took over the Dey Time Register Company in 1907, and the machines were then sold under the ITR name, all still manufactured in the USA
When the 20 year patent expired other companies started designing and manufacturing their own versions of dial recorders, notably The National Time Recorder Company and Howard Brothers in the UK
This machine was made by The National Time Recorder Company circa 1920, but sold and badged by British Time Recorder Company (BeTaR), an approved selling and service agent for NTR. NTR may even have done the re-branding work for BTR when ordered from them (the 2 companies were only a few miles apart in London)
Additional information was provided by Brian Main at Workclocks.co.uk |