|
| |
| |
Stand the case in the position that you wish your clock
to be in. So that the case will stand up straight and not lean backwards or to the
side it might be necessary to compensate for this by using wood or levelling wedges,placing them
under the plinth so that the case stands vertical . If the clock is to stand on a carpet, sometimes
the carpet thickness against the wall is greater due to a hem or grip rods, again it may be necessary
to compensate for this by wedging level. If you wish to screw the case to the wall, this can now
be done as long as it is standing straight up and not leaning backwards, it will probably be necessary
to allow for the thickness of the skirting board by fixing an adjustment piece on the back of the clock.
With a modern precision movement it is not necessary to have your clock perfectly vertical for the
movement to function properly we will discuss that in the next section. But it is necessary for the
clock to look right and for the pendulum and weights to swing and drop without infringement.
|
|
|
|
Years ago most houses had clocks with mechanical movements
so there would always be someone who would be able to put the clock into beat which in todays terms is
a bit like tuning the car engine because we want the machine to run smoothly and efficiently.
It is a simple operation which has been forgotten, I will try to describe what is happening inside
the movement and with this information the principles of putting the clock in beat should be made clear.
After you have positioned the clock and made it vertical remove the hood and looking behind the dial
identify the pendulum leader and crutch pin . The picture below shows a single pendulum rod ,
in the movement in your clock this is in two parts - the pendulum leader (metal) and pendulum rod (wood).
The escape wheel is driven by weight, it is prevented from spinning continuously by the anchor rocking
in and out of the escape wheel teeth, the rate at which the anchor rocks in and out of the escape wheel
is regulated by the pendulum and hence we are able to control the mechanism and make it into a timepiece.
The way in which the anchor rocks in and out of the escape wheel is critical, what we have to achieve is
that when the pendulum is hanging in the vertical position the anchor is in such a position that when the
pendulum swings, the distances the entrance and exit pallets have to travel are approximately the same.
In this way we get an even Tick - Tock, if one pallet has to travel a far greater distance then the
tick will be followed by a tock with a much longer pause before the next tick.
Before we discuss the process of making the tick even, attach the pendulum rod ,
swing pendulum gently and listen to the tick. The clock is set up at our workshops but in the course
of transportation generally needs re-setting ( but not always). |
If the tick is uneven
we need then to change the position of the anchor on the
pallet arbor, this operation is carried out with the pendulum
rod removed.When the pendulum leader is pushed to one side
it in turn moves the crutch,which pushes an exit or entrance
pallet against the escape wheel. At this point a resistance
is met , when you move the leader past the first point of
resistance you are then moving the fixed position of the
anchor around the pallet arbor. If you move the leader to
an extreme position, as you release the leader it will not
be able to rock the anchor out of the escape wheel , as
you bring the leader back from the extreme position it will
come closer and eventually pass the point where the anchor
bar is evenly balanced above the escape wheel . You must
now find this point and the simplest way is by trial and
error and in this way you get to know your clock. You must
carry out this procedure of establishing the even tick by
removing and replacing the pendulum rod each time. When
you are satisfied your tick is even it will tick away merrily
whenever you wind him up. |
| |
| |
There are three chains and three weights, the heavier being lead to
run the chime. When fitting these to their respective chains it is simply a case of choosing the correct
match of hook and eye and eye and hook. The pendulum and bob is how the clock regulates the movement and
when you turn the turn screw at the base of the pendulum bob ( clockwise to shorten - anti clockwise to
lengthen ) this will speed up or slow down the movement respectively. |
|
|
|
