The Timebeam Story

The story of projected time starts in England in 1920 when the Ever Ready Battery Company produced an 'electrical accessory' crafted from brass and mahogany that dimly projected an image of a clock on the ceiling.

In 1985, By Design Limited was formed to specifically design and manufacture a range of analogue projecting clocks. The company is directed by Stephen Savage (Design / Director) & Anthea Savage (Administration / Director) and is located in a small village in Oxfordshire, England.

By Design's first years were devoted to the initial design and development of the concept of clock image projection, followed by the first production of what was later to become the Timebeam New Classic.

Timebeam

The name, Timebeam, represents a range of unique products that dramatically project an analogue clock image. Timebeam was originally conceived in a conversation between Stephen Savage and Charles Coster in 1984 in New York.

Whilst Charles Coster, utilised his product and marketing experience in the development of a unique range of watches and, more recently, Cyber Computer Clocks, Stephen Savage commissioned design concepts for the proposed projecting clock, concerning himself directly with the engineering design requirements of the first Timebeam.

Over Time

The Timebeam Classic, as it was then designated, was industrial design at its best, offering for the first time a high quality projected clock image from a self contained light source.

In New York with Stephen and Anthea Savage Using a finely tuned lamp it proved possible to achieve powerful light output without the size and cost implications of fan-cooling.

The Timebeam is still considered a classic design and 'the antique of the future'.

In 1996, a new model called the Timebeam Micro was introduced to satisfy the market for a lower cost product, particularly designed for use in the home but also to meet the requirement for an economic projection system for promotional use. Considered Post Modern in its design, the Micro utilised coloured moulded plastic.

To further establish Timebeam as market leaders in time projection various new models were added to the range over the years. In 2002, the Timebeam Powerhouse was created as the ultimate in powerful clock projection, offering some ten times the light output of the Timebeam Classic (as was).

Also developed in 2002, was the New Classic, a new consumer model offering a further improvement in image quality with electronic dimming, new style, more colour and a higher specification at a lower cost. The New Classic utilised aluminium extrusions and matching plastic mouldings in its manufacture.

Later developments were the Semi-Recess model and the Classic Commercial, the latter specifically designed for the commercial market (and ceiling-mounting) and the former designed for recessed mounting within a suspended ceiling cavity.

The New Range

Currently, Timebeam By Design Limited offers three models in clock projection: the Microsweep (superseeding the old Timebeam Micro and incorporating a sweep second hand); the Maxisweep (for greater power output); and the Maxi-Ceiling (a ceiling-mounted version of the Maxisweep).

In development, is the new Timebeam Micro Alarm, offering an audible alarm and automatic clock projection to wake you up!

Stephen Savage

Stephen Savage Born in England, his education at Bryanston was followed by engineering training and then a career in the Automobile industry.

The design and manufacturing experience gained during that period proved to be critically useful when the concept of a projecting clock arose.

Stephen's sales and marketing skills were developed during many years in the gift industry, designing and manufacturing a wide range of stationery, toys and gifts. The prestigious Gift Award being won in 1980, 1981 and 1983 for innovative products designed by Stephen Savage.

The manufacture and marketing in Europe of the Just Hands Clock established Stephen's first link with Charles Coster and Time By Design.

Drawing on these years of experience, Stephen and Anthea Savage have developed and expanded Timebeam By Design Limited to reach its position as the world leader in time projection.

Technical aspects of new products remain, however, very much in-house and the various design features and originality of all of the Timebeam range are recognised world-wide.

Despite many attempts to copy the Timebeam product and concept, Timebeam By Design Limited is still recognised as the world leader in clock projection.