The Institute · The Belfry
Ring the pips.
Five short pips and one long, at a thousand cycles per second, struck on demand in the manner of Greenwich since 1924.
6Pips
1000Cycles per second
0Pigeons startled, target
About the pips
Since 5 February 1924 the BBC has broadcast six pips from Greenwich, the sixth and longest marking the hour. The Institute keeps the same arrangement, minus the broadcasting, plus a button. Press it to strike the hour wherever you are; the hour need not coincide.
Etiquette
Stand, if convenient. Silence telephones first, as the pips dislike competition. Do not count aloud; counting is the pips’ job. Applause withheld, as ever.
The belfryGreenwich mean-ish
The belfry is ready.
- Footnote
- The pips themselves are kept under Footnote 02, regular since 1924.
- Warning
- Do not sound the pips during a kept silence. The silence log will hear of it.