The original ball was retired in 1920 in favor of a second design; the second ball remained 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter, but was now constructed from iron, weighing 400 pounds (180 kg). The ball drop was placed on hiatus for New Year 's Eve 1942 and 1943 due to wartime lighting restrictions during World War II. Instead, a moment of silence was observed at midnight in Times Square, accompanied by the sound of church bells and chimes played from sound trucks.
why was there no ball drop in times square
placed on hiatus for New Year 's Eve 1942 and 1943 due to wartime lighting restrictions during World War II