The February 2006 Chapter 72 meeting was varied as usual.  Rob Shipton gave a talk on Sessions clocks and his restoration processes.  A very informative and enlightening talk.  He made use of the new digital projector and a borrowed laptop.  Show and tell was rich with information with from Chapter members and their projects.  The chapter got an award for membership recruitment. 

Click on the pictures for a larger view.
Rob centred his talk around a simple oak cased Sessions clock he used to own.  He detailed his restoration methods, inspecting, cleaning, repair and testing of this type of American clock movement C1910.  Close ups showed bushing and pivot polishing techniques.  Most Sessions clocks are quite modest affairs but exhibit a ruggedness that will, with the right care, keep going satisfactorily for many years.
Allan Hughes exhibits a $5 clock purchased from the last mart table.  He has restored the case and inserted a sessions movement to produce an attractive clock  - rescued from the "garbage tip" by a dedicated NAWCC member.  A simple lancet design and an untouched green column at the right shows variation in design as the 20th Century dawned.
Phil Jost wrote a book review for the Chapter Newsletter "The Story of the Pendulum clock by Ernest L Edwardes."  He was so fascinated by by a quote in the book about the verge and foliot which suggested an improvement in the foliot design and operation, he got distracted.  To such an extent he had to reproduce this effect by modifying a modern version.  The pictures show the loop which suspends the foliot and takes the weight off the bottom bearing.  How close the medievals came to better timekeeping before it was overtaken by the anchor escapement and pendulum!
Show and tell produced Kevin's drop octagon purchased at auction as a Seth Thomas but with an Ingraham dial, gong made in Japan and a genuine Seth Thomas movement inside!

The "Vienna regulator) pictured has an unusual centre sweep seconds.  Only two like this are shown in Ortenburger.  However, like many regulators with` a 3/4 seconds pendulum this one only takes 45 seconds to do a revolution.  Odd but interesting.