Yes, I was.
The first schematic is the general AC master clock relay circuit that seems prevalent on ITR and IBM masters . This is actually out of a distribution cabinet schematic but best represents the circuit for explanation here.
Description of circuit to pick the master relay:
If you follow the path from T1, up to the movements "min cont" (minute impulse contact) through the N/O contact set, then down to the "run" switch, down to the relay coil, then back to T2. This circuit operates the master relay every minute, normally.
The relay contacts then connect T3, through a fuse to one side of the +/- tab of the bridge rectifier. T1 is connected to the other +/- tab of the rectifier. I would have expected that the T3 connection to be at T2, but it could be that T2 is a center tap and that 24 volts is between T3 and T2 as well as between T2 and T1. This scheme allows a low current AC voltage source to pick the relay, which will connect 24 volts at a maximum of 2 amps for the supervised control circuit, thus saving the minute contact from damage from excessive sparking.
The second circuit, grabbed of the web, shows an arrangement where a Triac is used to connect an AC line together, being triggered by an opto-isolated Infrared (IR) LED circuit. This IR LED/Triac pair is driving a larger Triac for more current. Notice the bridge rectifier ahead of the IR LED which can rectify the 24 volt AC and [using a pair of resistors] limits the current of the minute impulse circuit to 20 ma, the required current for the IR diode. This should cause minimum sparking at the minute impulse contact.
I think this scheme will work, can be built somewhat compact, and operate as the mechanical relay without noise, no sparking and can be easily hidden.