What is a good clock design for a 1st attempt?

[David]

I can't start a new project until the mogul is done, but I can start reading about one.

I might make a clock next. I'd like to make one that is pretty straight forward, with the mechanism between two plates suitable to put in a case.

I don't want anything fancy like a skeleton clock.

There has to be a book about it, and it would be nice if there was suitable pre-cut pinion stock available. Cutting wheels should be ok, and I would like to do that myself.

Anyone made one that sounds suitable?

[racinjason]

David I have a clock on my next project list The Book I brought is called "Making an eight day longcase clock" by Alan Timmins it's a very interesting read.
Cheers Jason (PM sent)

[rrmrd66]

Hi David

Try this one:

tomsenior.wixsite.com/8day/post/a-guide-to-photographing-with-natural-light

I made this before I started on the Hunslet. Took about a year, including a "grandmother" oak case.

For parts and the book talk to Ian Cobb:

www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/

He has all materials including pinions in stock

Keep your eccentricities very tight (what ever Ian may say!)

Good luck

Malcolm (rrmrd66)

[Neale]

This link might be a useful place to look.

[Edit] or maybe not... Turns out that the site that I assumed would give access to all John Wilding's (a very prolific clock-builder and author) books and other works doesn't quite do that all. It suggests that you contact them for a free catalogue instead! Perhaps not one of the world's most useful websites. Sorry about that.

[David]

Thanks, the 8 day wall clock looks good.

[David]

I checked my bookshelf and I'd already bought the 8 day longcase book a few years ago, so that's good :)

[rrmrd66]

Hi David

Here is the Wilding 8day wall clock in the "grandmother case"

fullsizeoutput_5bf by Malcolm HARWOOD, on Flickr

Good Luck

Malcolm

[coniston]

Jan 31, 2021 7:20:15 GMT rrmrd66 said:

Hi David

Here is the Wilding 8day wall clock in the "grandmother case"

fullsizeoutput_5bf by Malcolm HARWOOD, on Flickr

Good Luck

Malcolm

Ooh, that's nice, a lovely contemporary design case.

Chris D

[terrier060]

Have a think about John Wilding's regulator. As a working clockmaker I think the only slightly tricky part is the dead beat escapement, but should not be beyond the scope of a model engineer. The reason for the regulator is because it has a minimum amount of wheels, it is weight driven, and is very accurate, keeping time to within seconds a week. It can be easily modified with ball races in the future, but this is not really necessary. A friend made one and he keeps it in his garage which has great variations in temperature. Also you are free to make a traditional or very modern case. Here is a picture of John's.  The clocks were used traditionally by clockmakers, who had one in their workshops for accurate timekeeping. They were also used as master clocks in factories and for clocking in machines.  They usually had compensating pendulums, but today an invar pendulum rod suffices.

Wilding Regulator by ed cloutman, on Flickr

[David]

Nice one Malcolm.

I'll have a read of the long case book again and see what I think. As RacinJason said above he's going to have a go at it, and we're in the same club so it would be good to have someone building the same thing.

I just have to finish the B class first.