Gruen Watchmaking Lessons

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Gruen Watchmaking Lessons '.' .,~ THE GRUEN WATCH COMPANY ,.., ._. ' Tim§ Hill / . Cincinnati 6 Ohio .. _) 1 LESSON III Balance - Page 9 ( Part l - What is the Balance Wheel? The balance is the governing part or regulator of a watch. It was first used about 1600 and was merely a crude wheel of any kind of material. The complete · balance wheel assembly ,is composed of the balance wheel, balance staff, roller table and hairspring. The timekeeping possibilities of a watch depend upon the·balance. If its size and weight are not in the correct proportions to the motive force and the rest of the movement, no a_djustment can be made that can make it a good time­ piece. Therefore, the hairspring and all other parts are always secondary in importance to the balance wheel, There are two types of balance wheels, the cut bi-metallic and the solid rim or mono-metallic wheels. A brief description of each ldnd follows: The cut-rim bi-metallic balance is made of a steel center bar or arm, carry­ ing a circular rim cut into two sections, each of tho sections having one free end. and the other end attached to the center bar. Tho circular rim is constructed of ,j(i_'~--- brass·and steel fused together, The former metal, which is affected most by tempera­ tures, is placed on tho outer side of tho rim, Holes are drilled and tapped radial­ . ly through the rim to cal'ry tho balance screws, The purpose of the balance screws . is to provide a weight that may be shifted to make temperature adjustments, Tho number of holes exceeds the number of screws in the balance, as allowance must be 1.. -t,····_ given for moving the screws in·the final temperature ad.justments, Then tho watch is '.'.t;.-<-ir exposed to higher· temperatures, the rim expands, and tho watch runs slower. Tho ::~~ii.x·~-; action of the rim, however, countoracts the slower running because the braes on the ~Yf~:.;. outer side,·which expands more than the steel inner side, curves the· two free rim ·,• ends inward, thus bringing the weight towards tho center of tho balance. When a watch is exposed to lowe r temperatures, the exact opposite occurs,. Tho brass counteracting moro than the steel tends to straighten out tho rim, and carry its weight outward. It will gain in heat if the screws are too near tho center or attached end of tho arm, and will lose in cold if tho screws are too near tho free end of the arm. The size of the balance is governed by tho distance between tho center of its weight and its axis; therefore tho object or the compensation is to keep that distance at its proper point in all temperatures, The other, tno solid rim mono-etallic balance wheel, is the type used in· practically a~l watches today, There are various metals used in its construction, but the alloy of Gruen balance wheels is known as 11 Elinvar11 , manufactured under our trade-marked name 11 CONORUMA 11 , This alloy is a combination of nickel, steel, Chromi­ um, manganese, tungsten and carbon, and creates no thermal·error, therefore requir­ ing.no compensation in the balance wheel for heat and cold, and also is not affected by magnetism, Furthor description and advantages ·or this may be dlound under the .. · topic of 11 Hairsprings11 in another lesson. ( .. ' v'·' ,r:· \ Lesson III - Page 10 f ' \ \ \ ' Part 2 - Staking the Balance Wheel to the Bafance Staff A. To remove the roller, the balance staff is held·by tho collet shoulder in a pinvise. After inserting the roller in a·wire chuck, it is removed gradually by turning the lathe pulley with the left hand, while the pinvise, holding the balance staff, is kept ~teady in the right hand, B, To remove the old staff from tho balance wheel, tho staff is chucked by the hairspring collet shoulder. Turning the lathe rit·slow speed, carefully cut . away the hub for the baknce seat until a little ring, which is the portion of the staff that drops off at the moment the graver turns the hub away to the edge of tho . hole in the b11lanco arm. · C, To rivet the bal11ncc wh00l on the staff, select and cente1r with the coutering punch, a hole in tho staking tool that will fit the roller shoulder of tho staff without binding. Place the balance wheel on the st.aff and use a snug­ fitting round-faced punch which will spread the rivet. (Fig 36) Tap tho punch .a few light blows with a brass hammer at the same time turning the- balance whiiel continuously with the little finger of the left hand,· Now select the proper flat punch, which is used to flatten tho rivet so there aro no uneven surfaces,(Fig 37) This flattening operation is dono in the same manner as tho riveting process. D, To re-fit the roller, ·put it on the roller shoulder of the balance staff and the table should drop on to the1 staff to about the thickness of the upper roller, Place the balance staff over the same hole in tho staking tool and push or tap the roller to its final position by using a flat punch, Part 3 - True Balances Place tho balance·in tho calipers and set the index, (Fig 38) First true the b_alance in the flat, starting with the balance arm so that it is flat and not cupped and both rirma are level, True one segment at a time, beginning at the arm and working towards the open end, (Fig 39) This should be done as much as possible 'with the fingers. Next true in the round, also starting at the arm. Any kinks are to be removed with the wrench or a flat plier that is. lined with cardboard, After truing the balance in the round, it is necessary to test it again in the flat. Part 4 - Poise Balances First clean the poising tool ,jaws and the staff pivots with pith, and level the poising tool and adjust tho jaws, Place the balance in position on the poising tool, (Fig 40) If the balance is out of poise it will start to rotate. When the balance comes to rest the screw that is heaviest will bo the lowest point on the balance rim, To subtract weight use tho balance holder rnnde for this purpose and remove the heavy screw with a screwdriver, Place the screw in the·lathe and under­ cut the screwhoad slightly, Then replace the screw in the balance, and aback the · balance for exact poise by stopping it at each quarter,. A slight tapping of the. 1 poising tool with the tweezer will aid the balance in finding its heaviest point, The greatest care must.bo taken when poising a balance wheel so that tho weight of tho balance is not altered, The slightest addition or subtraction in weight will cause tho watch to lose or gain time, If it is necessary to remove considerable weight, it is advisable to only remove about one-half the runount needed from the heavy screw •. Then tho final . poising is done by ·adding a timing washer on the screw directly opposito the heavy one. This will maintain the original weight of the balance as nearly as possible. •• Page lOA THE Gil.UJ,;N WATCH COl,iPANY TIME HILL CINCINNATI 6, OHIO Fig;, 37 Fig. 36 Bending Rim Up Fig. 39 · Bending Rim Down Balance Fig. 40 (_; Balance In Truing Calipell' ,, Fig. 38 ' ' THE GRUEN WATCH COMPANY .····)· \ .\! Time Hill ·...... · .. ·· J Cincinnati 6 Ohio . 1 '.,,,-''',.. LESSON IV HAIRSPRINGS Pago ll Part l - What is a Hairspring?· · A hairspring is a simple, delicate circular spring, whoso object is to give a constant, regular, harmonic motion (to and fro; back and forth) to·the balance wheel, (Properly speaking, harmonic motion is along a straight line, but it can so well be applied to the circular motion of tho balance.) The harispring was first introduced by Huygens in Pnris in 1674, While l'Abbe Hautefeuille of Orleans was experimonting with pigls bristle and Hooks was busy with angular energy, Huygens, with the holp of Thurst, was applying the hair­ . -"~ spring to the watch, About 1690 it was already in general use, At first,·all forms were considered and tried; the plain flat, the two flat superimposed, the cylindrical, conical and spherical. The only survivals today are the cylindrical for the chronometer and the flat for the watches, Formerly, hairsprings were made primarily of steel, but there wore numerous other types made of various metallic composition, CONORUMA·is the Gruen trade­ marked name for this now metal, discovered by Dr,·Guilliame, and is of great' importance to watchmaking, As an alloy of nickel, steel, chromium, manganese, ( tungsten and carbon, it produces a hairspring with 11 invariable elasticity", creat.. ing no thermal error -- and requiring no compensation·in the balance wheel for heat and cold, The bi-metallic cut-rim balance, therefore, becomes no longer necessary, .As an identification and explanation of the advantages of CONORUMA hairsprings and monometallic, uncut balances, all Gruen·movements which carry'those features · are marked on the balance bridge - CONORUMA, which means CO - Cpmponsation NO - No . RU - Rust or MA - Magnetism and in addition to tho advantages given above, denote~ the following, l - Hairspring will not vary with temperature 2 - Impervious to rust · 3 - Non-magnetic, The first watches had 3 to 4 coils and now we find 11 to 18, · Moro coils are required when the Breguet is used to allow the proper swing.
Recommended publications
  • Floating and Platform Balances an Introduction
    Floating and Platform Balances An introduction ©Darrah Artzner 3/2018 Floating and Platform Balances • Introduce main types • Discuss each in some detail including part identification and function • Testing and Inspecting • Cleaning tips • Lubrication • Performing repairs Balance Assembly Type Floating Platform Floating Balance Frame Spring stud Helicoid spring Hollow Tube Mounting Post Regulator Balance wheel Floating Balance cont. Jewel Roller Pin Paired weight Hollow Tube Safety Roller Pivot Wire Floating Balance cont. Example Retaining Hermle screws Safety Roller Note: moving fork Jewel cover Floating Balance cont. Inspecting and Testing (Balance assembly is removed from movement) • Inspect pivot (suspension) wire for distortion, corrosion, breakage. • Balance should appear to float between frame. Top and bottom distance. • Balance spring should be proportional and not distorted in any way. • Inspect jewels for cracks and or breakage. • Roller pin should be centered when viewed from front. (beat) • Rotate balance wheel three quarters of a turn (270°) and release. It should rotate smoothly with no distortion and should oscillate for several (3) minutes. Otherwise it needs attention. Floating Balance cont. Cleaning • Make sure the main spring has been let down before working on movement. • Use non-aqueous watch cleaner and/or rinse. • Agitate in cleaner/rinse by hand or briefly in ultrasonic. • Rinse twice and final in naphtha, Coleman fuel (or similar) or alcohol. • Allow to dry. (heat can be used with caution – ask me how I would do it.) Lubrication • There are two opinions. To lube or not to lube. • Place a vary small amount of watch oil on to the upper and lower jewel where the pivot wire passed through the jewel holes.
    [Show full text]
  • Collectable POCKET Watches 1750-1920
    cOLLECTABLE POCKET watches 1750-1920 Ian Beilby Clocks Magazine Beginner’s Guide Series No 5 cOLLECTABLE POCKET watches 1750-1920 Ian Beilby Clocks Magazine Beginner’s Guide Series No 5 Published by Splat Publishing Ltd. 141b Lower Granton Road Edinburgh EH5 1EX United Kingdom www.clocksmagazine.com © 2017 Ian Beilby World copyright reserved ISBN: 978-0-9562732-4-6 The right of Ian Beilby to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 Printed by CBF Cheltenham Business Forms Ltd, 67 Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EG CONTENTS Introduction 7 Chapter 1. The eighteenth century verge watch 13 Chapter 2. The nineteenth century verge watch 22 Chapter 3. The English cylinder and rack lever watch 36 Chapter 4. The English lever watch 42 Chapter 5. The Swiss lever watch 54 Chapter 6. The American lever watch 62 Chapter 7. The Swiss cylinder ladies’ fob watch 72 Chapter 8. Advice on collecting and maintenance 77 Appendix 1. Glossary 82 Appendix 2. Further reading 86 CLOCKS MAGAZINE BEGINNER’S GUIDE SERIES No. 1. Clock Repair, A Beginner’s Guide No. 2. Beginner’s Guide to Pocket Watches No. 3. American Clocks, An Introduction No. 4. What’s it Worth, Price Guide to Clocks 2014 No.
    [Show full text]
  • Physics 2305 Lab 11: Torsion Pendulum
    Name___________________ ID number_________________________ Date____________________ Lab partner_________________________ Lab CRN________________ Lab instructor_______________________ Physics 2305 Lab 11: Torsion Pendulum Objective 1. To demonstrate that the motion of the torsion pendulum satisfies the simple harmonic form in equation (3) 2. To show that the period (or angular frequency) of the simple harmonic motion of the torsion pendulum is independent of the amplitude of the motion 3. To make measurements to demonstrate the validity of equation (6), which relates the angular frequency of motion to the torsion constant and the moment of inertia of the torsion pendulum Useful background reading Young and Freedman, section 13.1, 13.2, 13.4 (the “angular SHM” section, specifically) Introduction A torsion pendulum is shown schematically to the right. A disk with moment of inertia I0 is fastened near the center of a long straight wire stretched between two fixed mounts. If the disk is rotated through an angle θ and released, the twist in the wire rotates the disk back toward equilibrium. It overshoots and I 0 oscillates back and forth like a pendulum, hence the name. Torsion pendulums are used for the timing element in some θ clocks. The most common variety is a decorative polished brass mechanism under a glass dome. You may have seen one. The balance wheel in an old fashioned mechanical watch is a kind of torsion pendulum, though the restoring force is provided by a flat coiled spring rather than a long twisted wire. Torsion pendulums can be made very accurate and have been used in numerous precision experiments in 1 physics.
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanical Parts of Clocks Or Watches in General
    G04B CPC COOPERATIVE PATENT CLASSIFICATION G PHYSICS (NOTES omitted) INSTRUMENTS G04 HOROLOGY G04B MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built- in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C 23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F 7/08) NOTE This subclass covers mechanically-driven clocks or clockwork calendars, and the mechanical part of such clocks or calendars. WARNING In this subclass non-limiting references (in the sense of paragraph 39 of the Guide to the IPC) may still be displayed in the scheme. Driving mechanisms 1/145 . {Composition and manufacture of the springs (compositions and manufacture of 1/00 Driving mechanisms {(driving mechanisms for components, wheels, spindles, pivots, or the Turkish time G04B 19/22; driving mechanisms like G04B 13/026; compositions of component in the hands G04B 45/043; driving mechanisms escapements G04B 15/14; composition and for phonographic apparatus G11B 19/00; springs, manufacture or hairsprings G04B 17/066; driving weight engines F03G; driving mechanisms compensation for the effects of variations of for cinematography G03B 1/00; driving mechnisms; temperature of springs using alloys, especially driving mechanisms for time fuses for missiles F42C; for hairsprings G04B 17/227; materials for driving mechnisms for toys A63H 29/00)} bearings of clockworks G04B 31/00; iron and 1/02 . with driving weight steel alloys C22C; heat treatment and chemical 1/04 .
    [Show full text]
  • Pierre-François Leroy: the Lesser-Known Brother of Julien Leroy by Robert St-Louis (CAN)
    © 2020 National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc. Reproduction prohibited without written permission. Pierre-François LeRoy: The Lesser-Known Brother of Julien LeRoy By Robert St-Louis (CAN) “It’s not enough that a watch should give good service importantly will try to shed some light on the life and and work regularly during six to twelve months; it must times of its maker, based on considerable documentary do so during seven or eight years, if possible.” evidence the author has uncovered and, in most cases, —Pierre-François LeRoy (April 1754) translated from the original French. Thus, the largely forgotten Pierre-François will step out from the shadows Introduction of his famous brother and nephew and be given some deserved attention as an innovator and accomplished n France, and particularly in Paris, the name “LeRoy”1 horological craftsman in his own right. in clockmaking and watchmaking is synonymous with quality, prestige, and desirability. At least since the early The early part of the 18th century was a time of great I 6 part of the 18th century, many horlogers (horloger is the innovation and discoveries in horology. Horlogers French term for watchmaker and/or clockmaker) named in France (as in England and other countries) were LeRoy have plied their trade and produced great numbers constantly trying to find better ways to design and of timepieces through the many decades that followed. build clocks and watches so that they would become Not all LeRoys have direct family lines, so it is sometimes more reliable and accurate timepieces.7 The search difficult to determine the connections between them, if to accurately measure longitude, of fundamental any.2 The story in this article deals with an older LeRoy importance to seafaring nations like France, England, family whose importance in the early days of watchmaking Spain, and others, caused great attention and effort to and clockmaking in the 18th century is undeniable.
    [Show full text]
  • This Is Part 1 of 2 on Servicing the 400-Day (Anniversary) Clock
    1 This is part 1 of 2 on servicing the 400-day (Anniversary) clock. This article will be a 2-part series devoted to the servicing of the 400-day or Anniversary clock by Michael P. Murray. Mike was AWI’s 400-day clock repair bench course Instructor. The 400-day course is a 2-day “hands on” affair with the students working on the clock that they bring and Mike can accommodate anywhere from 8 to 16 students. For more information about Mike please see his Website at: http://www.atmosman.com/400dayin.html . This article is copyrighted to the author and references. Members, In my initial series on the 400-day clock, we will cover final assembly right through final timing. My assumption is that we all know the basics but it’s the last seemingly basis steps where most of the troubles occur when servicing this slightly temperamental timepiece. My goal in writing these articles is to get you past many of the pitfalls and erroneous assumptions. There are no real “secrets” and I hope to enable anyone who reads this by dispelling any fears or myths. So if you’re not currently servicing the 400-day, I urge you to give them another try. Series Assumptions A quick mention of what I expect as the “basis”. You’re checked for and corrected any pivot, tooth, or gear depthing problems (depthing problems are extremely rare), used a mainspring winder to remove and install the mainspring, cleaned and lubricated same, pegged all pivot holes, polished all pivots and pivot shoulders, polished the anchor pin and the inside of the fork tines, and cleaned all parts.
    [Show full text]
  • The Haller Time Bomb (GTB)
    The Haller Time Bomb Clock by Mervyn Passmore 1 The Sigfried Haller ‘Time Bomb’ Anniversary Clock This unusual Anniversary clock has been nicknamed ‘The German Time Bomb’ because it normally ticks away happily for years, but suddenly and without any warning, its toothless ratchet can slip and the mainspring will unwind noisily. It can destroy itself in the process, and can cause injury to anyone near it at the time. It can shatter its own dome as it explodes. It is an extremely dangerous clock and you should consider very carefully before putting it on public or domestic display unless you are sure it is only partly wound. If you are considering working on the movement, either to service or repair it, you need to be aware that this clock was not nicknamed ‘The German Time Bomb’ as a term of endearment but because it can and does cause injury without any warning, and it can do so at any time, ticking or not. If you are not an experienced clock repairer, do not attempt to work on it. Put it in a strong carton, cover it with an old towel, seal the box and mark the box appropriately. Store it away from children. Most accidents occur when owners unwittingly undo the four screws on the back plate, expecting to find some sort of mechanism inside. Do not Do not start dismantling undo these screws unless you know that the by undoing these screws mainspring has been let down fully. on the back. If you do, the clock may explode.
    [Show full text]
  • Dynamics of Periodic Impulsive Collision in Escapement Mechanism
    Shock and Vibration 20 (2013) 1001–1010 1001 DOI 10.3233/SAV-130800 IOS Press Dynamics of periodic impulsive collision in escapement mechanism Jian Maoa,∗,YuFub and Peichao Lia aShanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, China bTianjin Seagull Watch Co. Ltd, Tianjin, China Received 10 May 2012 Revised 25 January 2013 Accepted 13 April 2013 Abstract. Among various non-smooth dynamic systems, the periodically forced oscillation system with impact is perhaps the most common in engineering applications. The dynamical study becomes complicated due to the impact. This paper presents a systematic study on the periodically forced oscillation system with impact. A simplified model of the escapement mechanism is introduced. Impulsive differential equation and Poincare map are applied to describe the model and study the stability of the system. Numerical examples are given and the results show that the model is highly accurate in describing/predicting their dynamics. Keywords: Periodic collision, dynamics, escapement mechanism 1. Introduction Dynamics is an important branch of mechanical engineering. In the last century, the linear dynamics was well studied and understood. However, nonlinear dynamics is far from being fully understood because of its complexity and diversity [1]. Non-smooth dynamical system is a special category of nonlinear system. In practice, it is not difficult to find non-smooth dynamical systems, such as a hammer hitting a nail, a signal triggering an electrical circuit, and a disaster affecting the stock market. It is known that a typical smooth dynamical system can be described by an autonomous set of Ordinary Differen- tial Equations (ODEs) [2–6]. Newton method and Lagrange’s equation are two basic tools to model such dynamical systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Only Time Will Tell: Examination and Analysis of an Early German Watch
    Article: Only time will tell: Examination and analysis of an early German watch Author(s): Meg Loew Craft Source: Objects Specialty Group Postprints, Volume Fourteen, 2007 Pages: 47-64 Compilers: Virginia Greene, Patricia Griffin, and Christine Del Re th © 2007 by The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works, 1156 15 Street NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005. (202) 452-9545 www.conservation-us.org Under a licensing agreement, individual authors retain copyright to their work and extend publications rights to the American Institute for Conservation. Objects Specialty Group Postprints is published annually by the Objects Specialty Group (OSG) of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC). A membership benefit of the Objects Specialty Group, Objects Specialty Group Postprints is mainly comprised of papers presented at OSG sessions at AIC Annual Meetings and is intended to inform and educate conservation-related disciplines. Papers presented in Objects Specialty Group Postprints, Volume Fourteen, 2007 have been edited for clarity and content but have not undergone a formal process of peer review. This publication is primarily intended for the members of the Objects Specialty Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works. Responsibility for the methods and materials described herein rests solely with the authors, whose articles should not be considered official statements of the OSG or the AIC. The OSG is an approved division of the AIC but does not necessarily represent the AIC policy or opinions. Craft AIC Objects Specialty Group Postprints, Volume 14, 2007 ONLY TIME WILL TELL: EXAMINATION AND ANALYSIS OF AN EARLY GERMAN WATCH Meg Loew Craft Abstract The authenticity of a small early German watch (WAM 58.31) in the collection of the Walters Art Museum was questioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Operating Principles, Common Questions, and Performance Data for an Atmospheric Driven Atmos Clock David Moline Clemson University
    Clemson University TigerPrints Publications Mechanical Engineering 1-2015 Operating Principles, Common Questions, and Performance Data for an Atmospheric Driven Atmos Clock David Moline Clemson University John Wagner Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/mecheng_pubs Part of the Mechanical Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Please use publisher's recommended citation. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mechanical Engineering at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Atmos Article for NAWCC Bulletin Operating Principles, Common Questions, and Performance Data for an Atmospheric Driven Atmos Clock David Moline and John Wagner (Chapter 126 - Western Carolinas members) Abstract: The elegance of the Atmos clock and the curiosity of mankind in self-operational mechanical systems have propelled this time device into our collective desire for more knowledge. The search for a self-winding time piece, based on normal atmospheric fluctuations, was pursued for centuries by horologists with the well-known clock proposed by J. L. Reutter and commercialized by Jaeger LeCoultre. This clock has generated numerous discussions throughout the years as noted in past Bulletin articles and other correspondences within the time keeping community. In this paper, the operating principles of the Atmos clock will be reviewed using fundamental science and engineering principles. Next, key questions and experimental observations will be discussed in light of the operating concepts to clarify the clock’s performance. Finally, an extensive database will be introduced which was gathered through physical measurements and data recording of an Atmos 540 clock.
    [Show full text]
  • Readingsample
    History of Mechanism and Machine Science 21 The Mechanics of Mechanical Watches and Clocks Bearbeitet von Ruxu Du, Longhan Xie 1. Auflage 2012. Buch. xi, 179 S. Hardcover ISBN 978 3 642 29307 8 Format (B x L): 15,5 x 23,5 cm Gewicht: 456 g Weitere Fachgebiete > Technik > Technologien diverser Werkstoffe > Fertigungsverfahren der Präzisionsgeräte, Uhren Zu Inhaltsverzeichnis schnell und portofrei erhältlich bei Die Online-Fachbuchhandlung beck-shop.de ist spezialisiert auf Fachbücher, insbesondere Recht, Steuern und Wirtschaft. Im Sortiment finden Sie alle Medien (Bücher, Zeitschriften, CDs, eBooks, etc.) aller Verlage. Ergänzt wird das Programm durch Services wie Neuerscheinungsdienst oder Zusammenstellungen von Büchern zu Sonderpreisen. Der Shop führt mehr als 8 Millionen Produkte. Chapter 2 A Brief Review of the Mechanics of Watch and Clock According to literature, the first mechanical clock appeared in the middle of the fourteenth century. For more than 600 years, it had been worked on by many people, including Galileo, Hooke and Huygens. Needless to say, there have been many ingenious inventions that transcend time. Even with the dominance of the quartz watch today, the mechanical watch and clock still fascinates millions of people around the, world and its production continues to grow. It is estimated that the world annual production of the mechanical watch and clock is at least 10 billion USD per year and growing. Therefore, studying the mechanical watch and clock is not only of scientific value but also has an economic incentive. Never- theless, this book is not about the design and manufacturing of the mechanical watch and clock. Instead, it concerns only the mechanics of the mechanical watch and clock.
    [Show full text]
  • Dating French Clocks Using Physical Parts – Suspension, Striking, and Exposition Medaillions Scotty Dean with Initial Work by Michael Murray and Kerry Rasmussen
    Dating French Clocks Using Physical Parts – Suspension, Striking, and Exposition Medaillions Scotty Dean With initial work by Michael Murray and Kerry Rasmussen FRENCH CLOCK & WATCH MOVEMENTS - naming “EBAUCHE” directly translates as ‘rough sketch’. In watchmaking, it is an “unfinished watch movement usually consisting of the plates, beridges, and cocks”. The finisher of the watch would often fit the mainspring and jewels and maybe produce the escapement (Thorpe) A “PENDULE DE PARIS” clock movement (literally “clock of Paris”) = the classic 4” round movement found in so many ‘marble’, figural, and lead crystal clocks from France. Largest quantities 1850 – 1914. Free Trade Treaty with England in 1860 meant that a great number were exported. (Thorpe) Movements were either “BLANCS” (literally “white”) = the frame consisting of the plates, pillars and barrels, or as “BLANC ROULANTS” (literally “rolling white”) in which the pivoted train wheels were added. The finishers in Paris added the escapement and other moving parts. (Thorpe) DATING CLOCK MOVEMENTS BY SUSPENSION MECHANISM STYLE (Thorpe) Silk suspension = until about 1850 Brocot Suspension = initial patent 1841; widely used starting 1850; 1865 additional patent for spring shoulders that offers the ‘click’ when adjusting. Vallet Suspension = upper portion of the suspension spring is completely enclosed as two brass halves that slot and screw together. Appears mid 19th century. Copyright © 2001 – 2012 Scotty Dean Thieble Suspension (pendulum bob) = appears ~ 1870. Duvoye Suspension (uncommon) = patented 1852, Thorpe had seen on one clock from 1880. Looks very similar to the Vallet Suspension, though the enclosure shoulders are not nearly as robust. Dating by use of a Count Wheel (or Locking Wheel) versus Rack & Snail Prior to ~1880 a count wheel (readily seen outside the back plate) was typically used on French movements, though there are exceptions, and have seen a rack & snail used as early as 1865.
    [Show full text]