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From 1927 until 1st April 2007 UK clocks were set by a time signal transmitted from Rugby Radio Station using a variety of different equipment including this Cold Cathode Clock. This was once of the first pieces of electronic equipment, which was used from 1956 until 1969 to transmit the MSF signal from the station site at Hillmorton near Rugby.

For its time the clock was amazingly accurate, providing a time signal that would be out by no more that one second every 18 months.

The clock's signal was used to keep the six pips to time, heard famously before radio news bulletins as well as provide the signal for the speaking clock. It also had global coverage and could be picked up by laboratories and ships around the world. Ships could correct their chronometers and hence know their longitude accurately.

This role was continued by the clock's successor the Atomic clock until the time signal was moved from Rugby to Cumbria in 2007.