These six photos show the fabrication of the three bell hammers.
First a hole is drilled through the cylindrical blank. Then a concave form is
cut into the blank. Next a fly cutter is used to make the pattern on the concave
surface.
Here a collar is fitted into the hole through which the hammer
lever will pass through.
Here we have the hammer levers and the completed hammer head.
Note the contour on the lever edges. Each hammer head is fitted with a hardened
leather insert. The screw used to secure the head to the lever is hidden behind
the leather insert so it remains invisible.
Next the spiral springs needed to load the hammers are
created. Without them the hammers would pull away from the bells since the
balance of the lever work is heavier than the small hammer head.
A side view of the hammer lever and knurl knob adjustment assemblies.
The completed compliment of the hammer lever connections and
hammer head assemblies.
What you see here is the astronomical clock project as of May 2014. I
have had this video prepared for a lecture I will be giving at the nation
convention of The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors,
Milwaukee, WI. later this month. Everything you see here is real, fully
functional and finished in metal with the exception of the mockup dial
bezels holding our completed enamel dial work. We now have a fully completed
four train quarter-striking clock. What is left to be done are all the
individual complications, or all of the behind-the-dial work. As my
fabricator has told me, "We have created the Christmas tree, now we must
hang the ornaments." The hardest part of the project is complete. What you
see here contains the most unique, difficult and larger scale parts. Those
that have high mobility and incredible interconnectivity. The remaining work
is all modular and of a much smaller scale. All of these complications have
been done before in the field of horology. I think we are now about 65% done
with a completion date set for 2018. Stay tuned!
