Category: Horology
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Watchmakers Lathe Toolbox
I recently bought this lovely watchmakers lathe (and various attachments!) from a kind and generous man named Ray. Thanks again, Ray! Such a nice machine deserves a proper case. Here’s the lathe – an 8mm Marshall, which I set up for left-handed use – various chucks, collets, gravers, and the foot pedal. I started by…
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Pre-WWI Cuckoo Clock with Articulated Wings
This is a cuckoo clock that was probably made between 1860 to 1914 in the Black Forrest in Germany (according to this). Aside from having cast bronze plates with a lyre pattern, the beautiful wooden bird that the mechanism puppets not only opens its beak but also spreads its wings! First I disassembled and cleaned…
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Fusee: Grading on a Curve
This is a clock with a fusee mechanism to regulate the power of the mainspring. Looking into the plates, we can see the fusee on the right as a sort of conical spindle (fusee derives from the latin word for spindle, fusus). When fully wound, the rope that’s on the barrel in the photo is…
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Mid 19th c. Verge Clock in a Painting
This is a clock from the 1850’s-1860’s that has quite a peculiar case – a painting! On a scene of the Rhine river, a painted clock tower holds a real working clock. The painting itself is quite discolored from time. It needs a good painting conservation, but I’m not the person for that job. The…
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Comtoise Clock: Repair and Determining Geography
This is what’s known as a Comtoise or Morbier grandfather clock. Let’s clean it up and get it ticking again, then we can discuss its name. Someone repainted the case. My instructor and I began to scrape the paint away, but that process is still ongoing. Here’s our first look at the movement. With a…
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Theatrics of Mechanism: The Brocot Escapement
“I wasted time, and now doth time waste me; For now hath time made me his numb’ring clock.” (Richard II, Act V, scene v) Here is a statue clock with a visible Brocot escapement. After servicing it I’ll discuss this combination of such an exposed mechanism with a casting of Shakespeare into a “numb’ring clock.”…
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31 Day Clock: Finding and Solving Problems
Here is a 31 day clock in need of repair. Something has stopped it from keeping time – could be it just needs new oil, the mainsprings have worn out, or something is causing friction like damaged gear teeth. Let’s see what we can find… First I removed the movement from the case and examined…
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English Translation of “The Art of Working Precious Stones For Use in Watchmaking and Optics” by N. Dumontier, 1843
English translation of L’art de travailler les pierres précieuses à l’usage de l’horlogerie et de l’optique… Par N. Dumontier I believe this is one of the earliest sources about using jewels in clock and watchmaking. I mainly used google translate and checked the translation where I felt the phrasing was off. “The Art of Working…
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American Time and Strike Clock
Here’s an American clock with a strike on the hour and one strike on the half hour. “Built in Kentucky 1885, Bought by James + H[K?], ST RALAMB. [?] For $1-50. Dallas HA MA.” I’m assuming that refers to the case. I removed the movement and put clamps on the springs to let the power…
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Servicing an Anniversary or 400-day Clock
Anniversary or 400 day clocks are simple because they just tell time – no chimes or strikes – but are also tricky because they are very sensitive since they are supposed to run for so long. Here it is as I received it. First I disassembled it. The movement really is simple, just one gear…
What Will Makes 