Subject: fw:Blacksmithed clocks

From: "daryl (d.a.) bender" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:42:00 -0400 [/PRMD=BNR/ADMD=TELECOM.CANADA/C=CA/;bcars735.b.062:13.08.96.14.43.03]

Because this is such a good post to another group (clocks) I thought I'd 
forward it onto the forge group. If there is any further dialog on this 
copy me personally ([email-masked]) as this is somthing I had planed 
to do and I will be on vacation for 3 weeks and will lose my 
subscriptions while gone. Thanks Ian!!

Daryl

---forwarded-message---->

 1996 Sep 13 at 05:50
 From:    [email-masked] (BNR400) 
          
 Subject: Blacksmithed clocks

Hi Steve and all,

Remember the earlist clocks? they were all made by blacksmiths (e.g.  
Ely Cathedral Clock). There are several ways you could proceed but first 
forget current practice of using cycloidal teeth etc. The simplest way  
would be to forge iron rings for the gears and fit the teeth as pins 
radially. You can divide the circumference using the holes in 35mm film 
strip wrapped round the rim or by marking out distances on a piece of 
paper. It really doesn't have to be absolutely accurate for your 
purposes. The pinions should be lantern pinions which again can be 
simply made by forging and drilling and which will work quite well with 
pin-toothed gears provided there is enough 'slack' in the dimensions.  
For an escapement I would choose a pin wheel type - pins in the side of 
a forged ring - with a lever forged from strip steel.

An alternative method and one which may be more appropriate for the 
motion work, would be to cut triangular teeth in a steel disc using a 
chisel and finish them with a file.  These would also work with lantern 
pinions but could be closer depthed to make the 'reverse drive' of the 
hand motion work operate better. For effect you could consider using a 
compound pendulum where it is pivoted part way down the rod. This will 
give a slower motion and will have an upward arm on which something 
decorative could be made to wave about. The main thing with a project 
like this is to experiment and not to make anything too good a fit. 
Working in this manner needs the incorporation of a good 'rattelation 
factor'!

Ian W. Wright LBHI in Sheffield, England

National Council Member and Sheffield Branch Chairman of the British 
Horological Institute: Bandmaster of the Hathersage Brass Band.

Music is the filling of regular time intervals with harmonious 
oscillations!

---

From: [email-masked] (steven bronstein)
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 20:39:16 -0400 (EDT)

This is all very helpful. I will pursue this with vigor and appreciate your 
taking the mystique out of it for me. I assumed that if craftspeople made 
clocks by primitive methods before, I should be able to use the same 
techniques again. I realize I will sacrifice mechanical efficiency in the 
process but gain in many other ways. I anxiously await any other thoughts 
you might have on the subject. Best regards - steven bronstein