Book on Clocks

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Book on Clocks

This topic has 12 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 19 July 2010 at 09:57 by John Haine.

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17 July 2010 at 19:37 #53498
ChrisH
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@chrish
Can anyone recommend a book on clocks, that is making and repairing them, how they work, suitable for someone who knows very little about them please?

Edited By ChrisH on 17/07/2010 19:37:38
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17 July 2010 at 19:37 #3589
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
17 July 2010 at 20:05 #53504
NJH
Participant
@njh
Practical Clock Repairing by Donald de Carle FBHI (ISBN 7198 0000 5) is a comprehensive and practical guide, Stan Bray’s “Making Clocks” Workshop Practice Series 33 has useful information at a modest price and any of John Wildings series on clock construction offer a wide range of varying complexity all well illustrated and written in a very approachable manner. He has also written two volumes on “How to Repair Antique Clocks”. It is really nice to cut brass so good luck in your endevours!

Norman
17 July 2010 at 22:12 #53511
Niloch
Participant
@niloch
I can only echo Norman’s remarks. Spending a little time on the following web sites will not only increase your knowledge base but hint at suppliers of the books mentioned as well as materials:

http://www.ritetimepublishing.com

http://www.teepublishing.co.uk

http://www.j-m-w.co.uk

http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk

Usual disclaimer.
18 July 2010 at 08:56 #53520
Terryd
Participant
@terryd72465
Hi there Chris,

There is a lot of valuable stuff on the internet if you do some searching. Depending on how much of a beginner you are How Stuff Works has some basic explanation of how pendulum and other clocks work A mechanical clock is a pretty basic technology consisting of 1) a source of energy, 2) a means of controlling the release of that energy, and 3) a gear train to transfer the energy to the motion of the hands.

1) can be a raised weight, or a spring of some kind. 2) can be a pendulum or oscillating wheel of various designs combined with an escapement mechanism and 3) is a compound gear train giving the movement of the hands. There are other mechanisms once common, such as fusee but these rarely used now, but interesting to study and sometimes construct for instruction or curiosity.

Mike Headricks site with animations and a free e-book is a good place to start before you buy the books mentioned above, all of which are excellent, I like Mike Wildings books myself. While browsing his site I came across a link to this one which sells plans for wooden clock mechanisms, but it also shows in detail how the various stages of a clock works, worth a visit.

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 18/07/2010 08:57:45

Edited By Terryd on 18/07/2010 09:14:29
18 July 2010 at 09:39 #53522
Terryd
Participant
@terryd72465
Hi Chris,

again! While browsing again I came across this YouTube Video which might interest you. It shows the building of a wooden clock but the principles are the same for metal clocks, just different manufacturing techniques, a different technology..

Terry
18 July 2010 at 11:14 #53526
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
Thanks guys, certainly have some pointers there.

I have a grandfather clock that works for a few minutes then stops and a mantle clock that does the same, so it would be nice to see if I could find out why and what to look for and where and maybe to fix those without damaging them without resorting to expensive specialists.

Plus I am interested in making a clock, or clocks, from scratch so at least now I know where to look for information on both repair and manufacture.
18 July 2010 at 12:54 #53532
NJH
Participant
@njh
Hi Cris

Very wise to read the books before starting. First and simplest check is that the clocks are level – you shouldn’t need beer mats etc under one side – the crutch ( see book! ) is usually adjustable either by a slipping collet or by bending to make small corrections.

It may be that lubrication will help but ON NO ACCOUNT give the movement a spray with WD40!!! whilst this might make a short dramatic improvement the WD will pick up dust and form an abrasive mix which will grind away between the steel pivots and brass plates. The right way is to dismantle the clock, clean thoroughly, carry out any necessary remedial work to pivots & plates, check springs, reassemble and oil with clock oil . If you are in to model engineering this is all fairly straightforward but a good bit of reading first is advisable. It may also be a good idea to see if you can find an old clock cheaply – ebay or boot sale? – which doesn’t matter and on which you can practice without making expensive mistakes!

If you are keen to make one I recommend Wildings wall clock which is straight forward .

Regards

Norman
18 July 2010 at 21:38 #53552
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
Hi Norman,

Heard about WD40 before, but what about silicon spray? That seems to spray as a liquid but pretty quickly dries to nothing – would that be any good?

Chris
18 July 2010 at 23:37 #53561
NJH
Participant
@njh
Hi Cris

I would steer clear of sprays which by definition spray the lubricant everywhere. The only place you need lubrication is at the bearings i.e where the pivots enters the plates. The wheels and pinions of clocks are not lubricated. If you want to try just lubricating first get some proper clock oil – ( http://www.medmaw.com/cgi-bin/medmaw/medmaw.cgi ) and apply just one drop to the outside of the plate where the pivot comes through. The best way to do this is to dip a matchstick in the oil and just touch the end of the pivot with this. As you will gather very little oil is required. I suspect though that if these clocks have not had atttention for some time then there may well be a sticky residue hence the dismantle and clean routine. It may well be of course that there is wear in the holes in the plates and/or the pivots.

Wait until you get the book(s) before dismantling!

Good luck

Norman

Edited By NJH on 18/07/2010 23:39:20
19 July 2010 at 07:26 #53574
Sam Stones
Participant
@samstones42903
Hello Chris,

One book I bought when I began building the skeleton clock (ME Feb ‘72) was W.J.Gazeley’s “Watch and Clock Making and Repairing” published by Robert Hale – London.

While this book is well advanced, it starts where it should, at the beginning. There’s a huge amount of information in both text and an abundance of drawings and sketches. It is especially useful in describing simple tools and gadgets which can be made without too much effort. Just browsing through this book was/is, to me at least, a real pleasure.

As Norman (NJH) advises, I would also stay away from spray-on lubricants. The clock I started to build in the mid 70’s has stood around (unfinished) for all those years. It is now a fine example of what happens when you spray with lubricant. The mixture of grime and whatever didn’t evaporate from the WD40, takes quite a bit of shifting.

Being a non-smoker, I found that toothpicks make good oil applicators.

Good luck.

Sam
19 July 2010 at 09:55 #53582
NJH
Participant
@njh
Hi Chris

Please note the address for the oil in my previous post is incorrect. If you go to

www. m-p.co.uk that will take you to Meadows and Passmore’s site where a huge variety of parts for all types of clock are available. Clock Oil is shown under Chapter 10 of their catalogue . I suggest that you ask them to post you a copy of their catalogue which will provide hours of interesting browsing!

Regards

Norman

Edited By NJH on 19/07/2010 10:10:59
19 July 2010 at 09:57 #53583
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
It isn’t a how-to book, but the title that got me interested in horology and tells you most of what you will ever need to know about how clocks work is “My Own Right Time” by Philip Woodward. I have had my copy for well over 10 years and still am getting more out of it.
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