Until the redefinition of the “second” in 1967, the scientific measurement of time was a core aspect of the astronomers’ expertise. The Neuchâtel Observatory (1858-2007) was particularly concerned with the problem of determining time. A structural lack of personnel led the institution to promote the automation of measurement procedures. At the mid-twentieth century, the Observatory acquired a photographic zenith tube (PZT). The PZT made it possible to automate the determination of time, while eliminating a certain number of technical errors in the meridian circles. Coordinated by quartz clocks, the PZT profoundly changed the functioning of the Observatory, especially with regard to the human factor. However, its success did not last long, as atomic time quickly became the new reference for determining time. This chapter examines the material and organisational developments at the Neuchâtel Observatory in order to assess their impact on the status of human beings at the institution, focusing on the operational chain for time determination in 1958.