Back then the ball was lowered manually with several guys using ropes and one guy checking their watch. So the ball drop prior to 1996 was always iffy on if they’d lower it in time or not. The first year when it was computerized which is when they rang in 1996, it wasn’t fully finished and they were about 2 seconds late. Ever since then tho, they’ve been on time.
I recall reading an article (we are talking about 25 years ago now) that the 1996 ball was actually 17 seconds late in terms of where the ball was supposed to finish. In that article, they had quotes from one of the guys who used to lower the ball saying that when they did it manually, the ball was never more than a split second off (which was obviously not true, lol).
Here are the well known failures on New Year's Times Square Ball drop 1946-47: The ball drop started hesitantly. 1949-50: A fuse blows. 1953-54: A windstorm caused the ball to push back up. 1954-55: The ball got tangled up and took a while to get untangled. 1955-56: Error in the electric lighting for the ball lights to turn off at 11:59:58 and caused the 1956 numerals to light up at 12:15 AM. 1977-78: 1978 numerals light up at 11:59:57 due to ball dropping way too fast when it was 10 seconds. 1979-80: Countdown is way too fast. 1980-81: (New Year's Rockin' Eve only) The clock shows 11:60 instead of 12:00. 1981-82: Ball did not lower until 11:59:10. 1983-84: The 1984 numerals light up half a second early. 1987-88: The 1988 numerals light up 5 seconds late. 1990-91: 1991 numerals light up 2 seconds early. 1995-96: A glitch occurred where the new computerized lowering caused a malfunction in the descent, displaying midnight two seconds later than real-time. 1997-98: Ball did not lower until 11:59:20. (Presumably done on purposed to avoid the ball being burned by flaming 1998 numerals due to New York City's Centennial Anniversary 1898-1998) 1998-99: Ball drop button is pressed late. 2002-03: Countdown screen turns off at 11:59:20. 2004-05: Countdown is too fast; 2005 numerals light up at correct time. Surround sound system malfunctions shortly after midnight, causing Auld Lang Syne to begin late. 2005-06: 2006 Numerals turn off seven seconds after midnight, then turn on again a few seconds later. Low wind and extremely humid conditions, in conjunction with many fireworks, generated a lot of smoke, blocking One Times Square, the first of currently five times this has happened; with the same happening in 2009-10, 2018-19, 2021-22 and 2022-23. 2006-07: Imagine was ended late; 2007 numerals light up early. 2007-08: 2008 numerals light up early. 2008-09: Countdown is one second early, which results in fireworks firing at 46, 31, and 16, and 2009 numerals lighting up one second late. This was due to the countdown starting at 59 rather than 60. 2009-10: Countdown glitches at 11:59:04. The weather conditions that night: light snowfall, no wind and very cold, in conjunction with lots of powerful fireworks, generated heavy smoke, which blocked the building for about a minute and a half. 2010-11: Ball drop button was pressed late, the Toshiba clock was a second early, and a loud horn was played which hurt people's ears, in a way the 2011 numerals were lit half a second before the arrival of 2011. 2011-12: In the TOSHIBA Animated Clock, the second hands never moved while the countdown was advancing and the ball dropping. Also one of the 2012 numerals was installed a little crooked, also the numerals lit up a half a second late. 2012-13: The The Toshiba's clock second hands did not move again for the second year in a row. 2013-14: At the stroke of midnight, the clock was late. 2014-15: During the countdown, no fireworks were launched. 2015-16: The clock was a second early. 2016-17: Fireworks on top-right never launched. 2018-19: Rainy and humid conditions caused the fireworks to generate a lot of smoke, causing the countdown and the 2019 numerals to be poorly visible at the stroke of midnight. 2019-20: The clock was a second early. 2021-22: The extremely humid environment (due to haze from early in the evening) and light wind, with a bunch of fireworks, generated an excessive accumulation of smoke, completely blocking visibility to the main building seconds after the arrival of 2022. 2022-23: Auld Lang Syne is played early. The humidity and rain caused the fireworks to generate a lot of smoke, and 1 and half minute after, the building was blocked by the smoke again, though not quite to the degree as the previous year. 2023-24: Ball drop button was pressed late, numerals glitched, causing the 2024 numerals to light up early. Ball did not reach bottom on time for '''1948-49''', '''1957-58''', '''1966-67''', '''1969-70 (with the side AC signs unlit)''', '''1982-83''', '''1984-85''', '''1986-87''' and '''1988-89'''.
Also on the recent New Year's Eve, the fireworks were lit late. For a moment I thought it was the most boring celebration, but in reality, the pyrotechnics took off late. Let's say that this edition of the New Year's party at the Time Square has been more about lack of coordination than sensation.
Notice for 2011 the bottom part of the clock had the top part of the pendulum, and the two parts were swinging off sync. That's why there was no second hand for 2012.
I think the 1980 Helbros Watches clock accident happened again the following year as it was faster for at least the last 14 counts (which equals 10 seconds)
You missed a fail(s) 1999: Discover countdown and ball drop is 2 seconds late 1970: Ball is not lowered in time 1975: Ball is not lowered in time 1988: -Countdown and the ball is 4 seconds late.- *_nvm about that it was a leap second_* Improvements: 1978: Times Square ball was 3 seconds early
You forgot the fail that in 2011, they had problems with playing Auld Lang Syne, and in 2012, there was a moment the New York, New York song was played louder than the rest
On another video of the 2010-11 ball drop, the Imagine by Taio Cruz ended late so they pressed the button late because they wanted to wait until the song was over.
I think 1988 should be added in this. When dick said, "leap in, we’re into '88!" he was just 4 seconds a bit to early. (or the crowd was 4 seconds late and the apple drop was late.) And the numerals also lit up late for 1 second.
I think they had to time it 1 second early because there is a 1 second delay between when the number 1 disappears and when the letters "Happy New Year" come up. So they probably wanted the letters to appear on time.
Notice for 2011 the bottom part of the clock had the top part of the pendulum, and the two parts were swinging off sync. That's why there was no second hand for 2012 and 2013. - Ryan's Colorado Rail Productions
