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Regulator Clock – Done

April 2, 2018 by Bob Easton 15 Comments

Ding Dong the Clock is Done!

  • photo of the regulator clock from left side
  • photo of the regulator clock from front
  • photo of the regulator clock from right side

Movement: Hermle Westminster Chime – 351-830 – 8 day – 66 cm pendulum
Overall height: 41 inches
Case height: 34 inches
Case width: 11 1/4 inches
Case depth: 6 1/2 inches
Crown width: 16 inches
Crown depth: 8 3/4 inches
Weight: 38 pounds
Wood: American Cerry
Finish: Shellac and furniture wax

Making this clock has been a long journey. I purchased the plans, movement and lumber years ago. A variety of moulding planes and other tools accumulated over time, until I decided last fall to tackle this “bucket list” project. I have very much enjoyed every minute of the project, even the adventure of acquiring the glass. The result now hangs on the wall between a couple of large bookcases.

photo of glass retention using framing points

The last steps before final assembly were installing the glass. I used framing points to hold the glass in place, and supplemented those with a thin bead of clear silicone caulk to ensure the glass stays where I want it within the openings, and to dampen any tendency to rattle.

Wall mounting uses two screws. The top screw is one intended for plasterboard application and rated for 80 pounds. A single “hang hole” in the back board hangs the clock on that screw. A lower screw protrudes from the wall only far enough to fit into a snug slot on the back of the back board. This screw keeps the clock firmly positioned vertically. Mechanical clock movements are sensitive to the vertical axis for keeping the pendulum swinging smoothly.

Total weight is 38 pounds. Those two brass cylinders contain lead weights. Combined they weigh 12 pounds and provide very constant motive power for the time keeping part of the clock. Two chime movements, one for the Westminster quarter-hour melodies, and the other for the hour strikes, are powered by springs.

On being a “Regulator”

We all know mechanical movements are no longer the most accurate time keepers. Electronic crystal regulators surpassed mechanics long ago.

BTW, very few mechanical clocks or watches and the vast majority of electronic crystal regulated timepieces are still not accurate enough to be considered chronometers. Chronometer accuracy is critical to determining longitude at sea and is better than -4 to +6 seconds per day.

Accuracy is a relative thing. In the era where mechanical clocks were the only clocks, the Regulator was one of the more accurate. Every jeweler and clock maker kept at least one regulator which they used as the reference for setting all other clocks and watches they touched. The key to the regulator’s accuracy is the use of a weight driven timekeeping movement. Springs, the normal motive power for mechanical clocks, offer too much variance in behavior: strong when wound tight, weaker as they unwind. Gravity is far more uniform. The gravitational force on the weights provide a uniformity that springs can’t match. That uniformity gives the clock much of its accuracy.

Even with that uniformity of motion, this clock is not as accurate as a chronometer, no where close to being one. Yet this clock is currently running  to +/- a dozen seconds per day. Regulation is by a small nut that lengthens or shortens the pendulum.

Gratitude: hearing the chimes of a mechanical clock – video

Other articles in this series…

  • Regulator Clock – Done
  • Regulator Clock – Woodworking completed
  • Regulator Clock – Scratching the frames
  • Regulator Clock – Door Hinged
  • Regulator Clock – Case Dry Fitted
  • Regulator Clock – Jelly Side Down
  • Regulator Clock – Case Frames – 2
  • Regulator Clock – Glass – 2
  • Regulator Clock – Case Frames – 1
  • Regulator Clock – The Works work
  • Regulator Clock – Glass
  • Regulator Clock – Tongue & Groove planes
  • Regulator Clock – Completed Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Stick Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Plate Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Egg and Dart Moulding
  • Regulator Clock – Eat Dessert First
  • Regulator Clock – original description
  • Regulator Clock – Stock Prep
  • Regulator Clock – Plans for Moldings
  • Taming the Rabbet

Filed Under: Clocks, Woodcarving, Woodworking

Regulator Clock – Woodworking completed

March 20, 2018 by Bob Easton Leave a Comment

Almost … one more hole to be drilled.

Carving the edges of the glass openings and carving the flutes were the penultimate woodworking steps. Next, I installed a pair of magnet latches, one at the top and one at the bottom of the door. After those steps, I went carefully went over the “show” surfaces with a card scraper for final cleanup, bringing the frames to completion. They’re ready for finish. Yes, I am going to apply finish before installing the glass and before final case assembly. Cleaning windows is never a lot of fun, especially removing shellac or wax.

One last dry-fit confirms the basic case fits well together well, and allowed fine tuning the latches. Those are so simple that I didn’t take pictures. A magnet screwed to the side frame, and a steel plate screwed to the door, both placed to ensure the door stays closed but not so tightly as to be difficult to open. Speaking of opening the door, there’s no door handle or knob. Instead, I carved a fingernail notch into the side of the case … and finished it with a couple of lamb’s tongues.

  • photo of dry fitted case
  • photo of dry fitted case from hinge side
photo of back panel - branded

When I get this close to finishing, it’s time to brand the piece. Branded with a hot iron on the back of the back panel.

Gratitude – the shop is almost warm enough to apply shellac.

Other articles in this series…

  • Regulator Clock – Done
  • Regulator Clock – Woodworking completed
  • Regulator Clock – Scratching the frames
  • Regulator Clock – Door Hinged
  • Regulator Clock – Case Dry Fitted
  • Regulator Clock – Jelly Side Down
  • Regulator Clock – Case Frames – 2
  • Regulator Clock – Glass – 2
  • Regulator Clock – Case Frames – 1
  • Regulator Clock – The Works work
  • Regulator Clock – Glass
  • Regulator Clock – Tongue & Groove planes
  • Regulator Clock – Completed Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Stick Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Plate Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Egg and Dart Moulding
  • Regulator Clock – Eat Dessert First
  • Regulator Clock – original description
  • Regulator Clock – Stock Prep
  • Regulator Clock – Plans for Moldings
  • Taming the Rabbet

Filed Under: Clocks, Woodworking

Regulator Clock – Scratching the frames

March 18, 2018 by Bob Easton Leave a Comment

Scratching? OK. Carving with a “scratch stock.”

photo of scratch stock and two cutters

Old saw blades should never go to waste. Little pieces of them can be cut for use in a scratch stock. A scratch stock is simply a device to hold a cutter. I made this one long ago. It was handy for decorating the edges of parts of my treadle lathe and a bit more recently for edges of some hand carved signs. For this project, the stock and 2 bits made it easier to carve smooth edges and several runs of fluting.

photo of scratching the edge of a glass opening

Once I had glass in hand (yes it arrived, more below) the openings could be checked for proper size and the edges around the openings carved to shape. The shape is simple, a slight recess for a shadow line and a round over. I made a cutter and scratched the long straight stretches with the scratch stock. The straight stretches went surprisingly fast. Scratch stocks can create tear out across areas where grain is changing. So, I used a few curved carving gouges to work the top arches and curved bottom corners. I repeated for all three glass openings.

The door features 3 fluted columns on either side of the glass. They are about 1/4 inch wide and 1/8 inch deep. It’s a real good thing if they end up straight and evenly spaced. This is where scratch stock work excels. Having a good registration surface keeps the flutes straight. The group of pictures below shows the process.

  • photo of scratching a flute
  • photo of adjusting the scratch stock
  • photo of scratching the last of the flutes

Follow-up is very light sanding with paper wrapped around a dowel.

Glass – part 3

Yes, I have glass. After waiting months, I gave up on Mr. Holder and found a glass shop in Carlstadt NJ that took the order and delivered in 3 weeks. Accurate Glass and Mirror did fine work, exactly as I requested. Beautiful bevel on the door glass. I’m very satisfied with it. This would be a good place for a picture, but photographing glass is an elusive activity (not gonna show you the useless pictures I took).

Meanwhile, an acquaintance in a clock collectors group told me of another way to contact the unresponsive Mr. Holder, who still has an “F” rating at the Better Business Bureau and has upped the complaints count to 14. After several messages through a new path, he answered brusquely, advising me that (1) he “doesn’t do refunds” (2) everyone always get the promised glass (3) but not always on a schedule they like. The curtness of his message sounded like, “shut up, and wait … and don’t argue.”

Just for grins… If glass arrives from Mr. Holder, should I make another of these clocks? Anyone interested? Be forewarned, it’s not an inexpensive clock.

Gratitude – not having whatever problems leave Mr. Holder so angry.

Other articles in this series…

  • Regulator Clock – Done
  • Regulator Clock – Woodworking completed
  • Regulator Clock – Scratching the frames
  • Regulator Clock – Door Hinged
  • Regulator Clock – Case Dry Fitted
  • Regulator Clock – Jelly Side Down
  • Regulator Clock – Case Frames – 2
  • Regulator Clock – Glass – 2
  • Regulator Clock – Case Frames – 1
  • Regulator Clock – The Works work
  • Regulator Clock – Glass
  • Regulator Clock – Tongue & Groove planes
  • Regulator Clock – Completed Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Stick Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Plate Mouldings
  • Regulator Clock – Egg and Dart Moulding
  • Regulator Clock – Eat Dessert First
  • Regulator Clock – original description
  • Regulator Clock – Stock Prep
  • Regulator Clock – Plans for Moldings
  • Taming the Rabbet

Filed Under: Clocks, Woodcarving, Woodworking

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