How to Make a Weight-Driven Clock

How to Make a Weight-Driven Clock gives the reader all the information needed to undertake the very rewarding experience of making a complete weight-driven clock movement. It covers all areas of making the movement, including: •The tools required and exercises in using the traditional hand tools •Marking-out techniques •Fundamental drilling and machining processes •Cutting and crossing wheels, and cutting and polishing pinions •Making a working escapement •Soft and silver soldering •Winding the clock with either a key or a chain pull •Finishing processes to complete the movement and making hands to indicate the time •Construction of a test stand to run the clock Movement
For many centuries, a falling weight has been used as an energy source to drive mechanical clocks. It is a versatile and constant force that has been used to power clocks, from the great cathedral clocks of the world to precision timekeepers, astronomical regulators, the longcase clock and many designs of wall clock. This comprehensive and detailed book describes the function of the parts of a weight-driven clock, before accompanying you on the journey to making your own. There are many components that need to be made and skills to be mastered to make a weight-driven clock movement. This book will enable you make all the parts required, including the plates and pillars, and show you how to cut the wheels and pinions. From there, you will make the barrel assembly, pallet and hour wheel bridges, pallet, pallet arbor and the crutch. Finally, the pendulum and the pulley are made before the clock movement is ready to be assembled and operated. With over 400 photographs, showing every stage of the build, and over 100 technical drawings, covering the construction of the movement, this book is a practical step-by-step guide to making your own weight-driven clock movement.