Dec 09 - Apr 2010 - Chapter 168 Meetings

Gallery Pictures from the last 3 meetings of Chapter 168 in Sydney show some of the activities. The meetings this year will include hands-on practical work for restoring anniversary clocks as well as other makes. We discussed skeletonising the plates of a Schatz 49 and of course, to do this you need skill with the piercing or jeweller's saw, so we all had a go, after Doug Minty demonstrated how he does this.

Wheel cutting is also a useful skill in clockmaking, so the theory was covered and members practiced this skill. Of course, members bring clocks for discussion and a Kienzle ready for restoration was discussed as was an unusual synchronous clock by the Franklin Clock Co. Philadelphia., PA which had been converted to run from Australian mains power.

Franklin mains synchronous clock.	This clock uses a novel method to operate the pendulum, which has no effect on time keeping.	The pendulum is driven from an escape wheel and pallets, but in reverse.	The drive system is a synchronous motor.	The Synchron motor is clearly visible in this photo.
A Kienzle 400-day clock in need of some restoration.	The final job will be judged against the "before" pictures.	Work is needed on all parts of the clock, including the disc pendulum.	Getting this to look as new will be a challenge.	At least the dial looks to be in good condition.
Deep in discussion about the use of a jewellers saw.	A selection of the saws owned by members.	A frenzy of sawing and several broken blades, but we all got something out of this exercise.	An initial impression of how a Schatz 49 can be converted to a skeleton clock.	This is the layout, taken from the Horolovar book showing plate layouts.
Some more practice work, once we'd seen what has to be done.	Aligning the cutter and blank to cut a clock wheel.	Here's the setup, ready to go.	Doug explains the finer points.	Tentatively making the first cuts.
Everyone gets to have a go.	The indexing plate is used so that all 80 teeth are perfectly spaced.