2015 April meeting

2nd April 2015

The History of Metals and its Influence on Clock Development

Chris McKay FBHI

How much do we know about the metals we use everyday

Chris will start with the history of how Iron, Steel, Zinc and Brass were commercially produced over the centuries. Starting in 1386 the supposed date of the Salisbury Cathedral Clock to 1900 when social and economic conditions determined a downturn in clock production.

coalbrookedale

Coalbrookdale

With the metallurgical history established Chris will then go on to chart the development of clock production identifying marker points in horology that can be attributed to the metals available. Domestic as well as Turret Clocks will be considered.

bloom out of furnace

Bloom out of the furnace

Looking to the future Chris will speculate on the discoveries that may be made using the bewildering array of tools and techniques available today.

Chris, a Chartered Electronics Engineer is Chairman of the Dorset Clock Society and a prolific author. His books “The Turret Clock Keeper’s Handbook” and “Big Ben – The Great Clock and the Bells at the Palace of Westminster” are seen as the definitive works on these subjects.

McKay

A regular contributor to the HJ Chris has provided both articles and authoritative book reviews. Risking the attention of every Health & Safety Officer in the land the November 2013 issue covered working with molten lead in a practical and safe way for the clock enthusiast.

Aged 11 Chris started to take alarm clocks apart and by age 13 had learnt to put them back together again! At the age of 19 he worked on his first Turret Clock and has been fascinated by horology ever since.

This is a talk not to be missed!

2015 March meeting

Swarf on my Mouse Mat – John Downie

An intriguing title for what promises to be a talk to remember.

John Downie who is a member of the Sussex Branch of the BHI is a retired university lecturer with a keen interest in the practical use of computers in clockmaking.

John will be describing the research and computer modelling he did in order to help a friend build a functioning model of the famous 14th Century Salisbury Cathedral Clock.

With a desire to be able to manufacture complex items in his workshop John has built his own CNC machine using a scrapped computer controlled PCB drilling machine together with home brewed electronics and software.

Subsequently he has gone on to develop computer models of mechanical regulator clock escapements and using programs such as Algodoo and Rhino 3D and a home brewed mill has gone on to put some of them into practice.

John is not entirely computer based and enjoys working alongside other Sussex based horologists fine tuning his hand skills.

Anyone who was on the visit to the Frodshams workshop will remember how impressive the computer aided design facilities were.

Maybe John will inspire us to see how the computer can be put to good use in our own more humble workshops!!

2015 February meeting

Owen Gilchrist

The meeting on the 5th of February will be back in our usual White Hart Barn Godstone and we are delighted to welcome the renowned horologist Mr Owen Gilchrist from the Bristol branch. Owen will be traveling complete with bench and his family to demonstrate, under the bright lights of a video projector. Owen will demonstrate assembly of the Smiths iconic calibre 1215 watch. This was one of two manufacturer’s watches that Sir Edmund Hillary wore to the summit of Everest.

Owen who studied at the Manchester BHI College alongside Roger Smith and others, will explain to us as he gives his demonstration, the history of this British timepiece. Conceived at the time of the Second World War and developed after it, the watch remained in production until the 1970s. Owen will bring an example of the early watch.

Owen will have watches for demonstration which are for sale and a number of other items, including books that would be of interest to the discerning horologist so come prepared.

2015 January meeting

 


A TOUR OF THE CLOCKS OF LYME PARK HOUSE

Our own Duncan Greig will be taking us on a virtual tour of the clocks of Lyme Park where he acts as a Horological Conservator to the National Trust.

Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme Park was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate. It is now owned by the National Trust.

Boasting 46 clocks including 7 Tompion’s 2 Knibb’s and a Long Case by George Graham this promises to be a very entertaining and interesting evening.

For those who like to do their homework full details can be found by following the National Trust link on our website – www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk. Get your questionsready!!

 

2014 December meeting

Swarf on my mouse mat – John Downie

An intriguing title for what promises to be a talk to remember.

John is a retired university lecturer and a member of the Sussex Branch of the BHI with a keen interest in the practical use of computers in clockmaking.

John will be describing the research and computer modelling he did in order to help a friend build a functioning model of the famous 14th Century Salisbury Cathedral Clock.

With a desire to be able to manufacture complex items in his workshop John has built his own CNC machine using a scrapped computer controlled PCB drilling machine together with home brewed electronics and software.

Subsequently he has gone on to develop computer models of mechanical regulator clock escapements and using programs such as Algodoo and Rhino 3D and a home brewed mill has gone on to put some of them into practice.

John is not entirely computer based and enjoys working alongside other Sussex based horologists fine tuning his hand skills.

Anyone who was on the visit to the Frodshams workshop will remember how impressive the computer aided design facilities were.

Maybe John will inspire us to see how the computer can be put to good use in our own more humble workshops!!

 

2014 November meeting

AGM followed by talk by Ron Rose

With 52 years in the trade, Ron will talk about What a Clock Repairer Collects!

 

When asked about this he gave the following reply:-

‘It was often implied that I must have a marvellous collection at home. Well No, actually, as every time I brought home a clock and loved it, someone would bring in a better one for repair shortly after, and shatter the appeal of my own! So I do collect but not conventionally. My collection is “all sorts”, ingenuity, things which tell a story, one offs or things where I have yet to come across another. No Tompions, Quares or Breguets as they are much too common (what other reason could there be?).

Open any horological book and lots of these appear. My collection of bits would take a lot more searching, but they have a value —– “priceless”. I guarantee there will be something that every single person in the room, not only has never seen before, but will never see again in their lifetime! Or I’ll give you your money back!!’

2014 September meeting

This year’s Beresford Hutchinson memorial lecture will be delivered by English watchmaker, Roger Smith.

“Against all Odds”

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Not three years have passed since the death of Dr. George Daniels CBE, DSc, FBHI, FSA, a man who devoted his working life to the development of the modern mechanical English Watch. Mr Daniels recognised the need for a watch that could compete with a changing market giving high standards of timekeeping and longevity of service.

The Co-Axial Escapement was his invention, not only did its making require the greatest of skill, but it was an analysis of hundreds of years of horology’s greatest escapements. The task of getting the Swiss watch industry to mass produce his prototype “against all odds” would have made many crumble.

So what of the future? With George’s bequest of his entire workshop contents, Roger Smith continues to hand make watches on the Isle of Man, making improvements and continuing the high standard his master instilled. Many of the South London Branch fondly remembers a visit to the Daniels Riversdale studio.

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It was George’s wish that an Educational Trust be set up from his estate and by actively supporting those wishing to make a career from horology in the UK, whether employed or self-employed, that the trust fund will ensure that future generations are given the opportunity to develop their horological skills.

 

 

2014 June meeting

Due to an unfortunate cancellation, this month’s talk will be a change from the printed schedule. Rory McEvoy will stand in to present an unusual horological study of two Titanic relics from the National Maritime Museum collections. The talk will look at the history behind a mechanical musical toy pig and a gold pocket watch and how these objects can tell us more about the night of the disaster and its wider effect on the business of keeping time at sea.

Norman-watch

2014 May meeting

The May meeting was a break from the norm, with five short presentations courtesy of the staff and students from the horology course at West Dean College. The presentations went down really well and were followed by a lively discussion about the clocks and mechanisms.

Event’s announcement copied below:

Pyke pedestal organ clockImage1

The George Pyke clock and West Dean College

Course tutor, Matthew Read:

Matthew will be give an overview of the current thinking and direction of the course in antique clock restoration and conservation as well as introduce his students and intern:

Jonathan, BCU graduate and West Dean intern:

Jonathan will talk about his current work on the extraordinary musical automaton clock by George Pyke. The clock, which is normally displayed at Temple Newsham House in Leeds, is currently spread out over several benches at the college. Jonathan will discuss work on: the case, automated parts, re-furbishing the bellows, analysis and restoration of the pin barrels and researching the music.

John, 1st year student:

As a first-year student John is developing his bench craft by making a weight-driven hoop and spike timepiece from scratch. The clock is being made in the style of an 18th century example and he is, where possible, using traditional methods to create the clock.

Tabea, final-year graduate student:

Tabea will talk about the restoration of a Charles Frodsham ship’s bell clock and discuss her interest in the subject, which she hopes to take further with an internship at the National Maritime Museum later this year.

Ashley, final-year graduate student:

Ashley will talk about his work restoring a perpetual calendar mechanism and other French clockwork as well as introduce his thoughts about his next big project, the conservation/restoration of a turret clock by Nicholas Paris of Warwick.