Turret Clock

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Build project

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

My father likes the idea of building a turret clock for his garage (it has a high gable end at the front) and I have a spare Boxford lathe he can have. The question is, can I get a set of plans for him or a kit of some type? he needs to be able to make it on the Boxford so not too big but I can scale it for him if it is too big for the lathe or I can make the bigger stuff if necessary.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

John Wilding did a small Turret clock that would be suitable. Capable of driving up to a 3 ft dial. It uses a dead beat escapement, all wheels are 1 module so you only need one cutter.

Alternatively he could make a synchronome with a waiting train slave to drive the dial. Wilding also published a design for that too.

Have a look at **LINK**

It seems you have to email for a catalog

regards Martin

[Stephen BensonParticipant @stephenbenson75261]

Wilding does offer the easier to make and nicer to watch gravity escapement as well using the same escape wheel also electric winding in the latest Small Turret Clock book.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

As far as I am aware Wilding didn't do a gravity escapement, the original was intended to be a grasshopper which I agree is more interesting to watch.

Martin

[Stephen BensonParticipant @stephenbenson75261]

Sorry Thought the Grasshopper was a gravity escapement forgive me

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

No worries. Now I have aroused your curiosity you may like o have a look at

**LINK**

Where you can see what the escapement looks like. It's a double three legged gravity escapement invented by Lord Dennison and is used on the Wesminster Clock (Big Ben). As you can see the escape wheel is somewhat different.

regards Martin

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

The Boxford is easily big enough for even a church sized turret clock but it would be a pity to make one and then hide it up in some spider ridden corner of a garage. I think a master / slave arrangement would be better with the master in the house where he can see it and show it off.
Rather than the synchronome I would suggest an ME Jubilee clock (in it's more recent updated form) with an added set of contacts to derive a 30 second pulse.

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Thanks for the suggestions and the links. I have the information now and am waiting for a picture of a "SMALL WEIGHT DRIVEN TOWER CLOCK MOVEMENT" before I order the book.

Bazyle, We like spiders here (which is just as well 'cos there are some real beasties about) but the garage is going to be the home and the clock face will be the bit mere mortals will get to see, visits to the engine room by special invitation only!

Mark

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Mark,

Here is a nice overview picture to whet your appetite.

MichaelG.

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Michael, is that what it looks like? Obviously, that is made from very nice brass and I suspect his is more likely to be painted steel profiles and less ornamental – he has never used a lathe and he will be happy with a far more "agricultural" (or rustic perhaps) finish as long as it turns a nice big set of hands on the outside of his garage and keeps time accordingly – if he had a cockerel and they both reckon its 6 am within half an hour or so he would be happy…..

Mark

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

perhaps another suggestion would be to contact a few local Churches and ask to be shown up the tower and choose a clock to copy but say half or quarter size.

Smiths of Derby, and Gillett and Johnston of Croydon might also help.

for the sake of accuracy, there was never a 'Lord Dennison'. Sir Edmund Beckett Denison of 'Big Ben' clock fame (and much else besides) became not Lord Denison, but Lord Grimthorpe.

cheers,

julian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Mark C on 27/10/2015 23:12:12:

Michael, is that what it looks like? …

.

Mark,

The picture that I linked does show a particularly fine example; but it gives a useful view of the mechanism.

It is featured on this page; so I think we may safely assume that it's dimensionally 'standard'.

Note: The style of construction does lend itself nicely to the use of alternative materials for the frame.

MichaelG.

.

P.S. … May I recommend that you look at this recent thread, and particularly the paper I linked therein.

P.P.S. … Oops … just noticed that you posted in that thread.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 28/10/2015 08:48:56

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Do you need a large lathe to make a Turret clock? On the original clocks only the pivots would have been turned?

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 28/10/2015 08:44:54:

Do you need a large lathe to make a Turret clock? On the original clocks only the pivots would have been turned?

Neil

.

For that matter, Neil; would you need a 'lathe' at all ?

It is perfectly possible to produce a useable pivot by hand, using a file and a groove in the 'bench'.

MichaelG.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Quite a few tower clocks ( and some long case clocks ) where made by village blacksmiths

Roy

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Only the Wilding design has been mentioned. There has been another design that has appeared at shows in the last dozen years. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

He is in his 70's so it would be easier if most of the graft was done by a machine – hence the idea of making on the Boxford. His knees are shot so he can't stand at a bench but he can sit at a lathe in relative comfort.

Mark

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Alec Price did a birdcage frame tower clock as mentioned in another thread and Epping Forest? MES had a tower movement with a double 3 legged gravity escapement at Aly Pally a couple of years ago. You are quite right Julian I am getting my Grimthorps and Dennisons in a twist. It's all the same person.

If want a contemporary treatise on tower clocks you could do far worse than a copy of Clocks Watches and Bells

**LINK**

I got my copy from a second hand book dealer the trouble is people remove the fold out pages of drawings for the Westminster clock and sell them separately so they are usually missing from old copies.

regards Martin

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Oh and I forgot to say you can get a pdf version here

**LINK**

regards Martin

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Mark,

One [I think] important point that has not yet been discussed:

Probably the most complex [for which read difficult and/or expensive] part of many designs, including John Wilding's, is the bevel-gear take-off for driving the dial[s] remotely.

If I understand your opening remarks correctly; your Father's clock will have a single dial, mounted in the gable-end of the building … This being the case, it would greatly simplify the clock if it could be mounted in-line with the dial. … Is that a practical proposition?

MichaelG.

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Edit: If it's within reasonable travelling distance, I recommend a visit to see John Harrison's clock in the stable block at Brocklesby Park [see here] 

Edit: Sorry  It looks like Brocklesby is now back in private hands, and the stable clock may no longer be accessible … Does anyone know for sure ?

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 28/10/2015 12:04:34

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 28/10/2015 12:18:15

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

It really is not a practical proposition to have a direct drive, at the very least you need Hook joints (universal couplings) between the clock and the dial to accommodate building movement. Bevel gears are not that hard to make , if you can cut clock wheels you should be able to cope with bevel gears. If not you can always buy them in. The major advantage is the freedom it gives you in where you mount the clock. If you are winding by hand or servicing its much better to have the clock at ground level. Don't think you have to have the weight lines leading down from the clock either it's very normal to lead them up and then round a pulley or two and then down to a weight box in a convenient corner.

Regarding Wildings design his original clock plates were in Aluminium as he thought that brass was too expensive. Most flat bed turret clucks (the last evolution of the beast) were either a casting in Iron or steel framed and painted.

regards Martin

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 28/10/2015 12:12:22:

It really is not a practical proposition to have a direct drive, at the very least you need Hook joints (universal couplings) between the clock and the dial to accommodate building movement.

.

Martin,

Point noted … although I actually mentioned "in-line", not "direct drive'

and, of course the relevance of 'building movement' would depend upon the scale of the clock and how it is mounted.

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Mark,

For info. here is a YouTube video showing a 'grasshopper escapement' version of the John Wilding design.

MichaelG.

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Thanks for all the information. I will buy the book and he wants to build it "rustic" like so it will end up being more smithy than engineer which is his want. It will also be fitted with the dial on the outside of a single brick wall and the works on the other side, depending on how it all goes he might build others but this is his plan so I am happy to indulge him!

Mark

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