In this article, we will look at the history and evolution of probably the most important invention in Horology, the Pendulum Clock. A pendulum clock is a clock that uses a pendulum, which is a swinging weight, as its timekeeping element. The advantage of a pendulum for timekeeping is that it is a harmonic oscillator: it swings back and forth in…
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Skills Needed by Clockmakers Were Many. Clockmaker’s skills and knowledge to make a clock are many, and in the case of making a longcase clock, there are three trades each with specialised skills and knowledge to complete its production. Movement (mechanical parts) Case making Dial Making The idea that in the old days a clockmaker…
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The craftsmanship of Black Forest clockmakers dates back to the middle of the 17th century. A specialized branch of Black Forest clockmakers were the manufacturers of cuckoo clocks. Black Forest clock production began in the mid-17th century. The first range of clocks was for practical use and of simple design. The popularity of clocks from…
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Don’t Dismiss eBay For Movements & Dials… Sourcing antique or old movements and dials for restoration suitable to be housed in a reproduction case you are proposing to make can be time-consuming and costly, to say the least. I have spent many hours rummaging through antique shops and fairs and standing hours trying to buy…
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After many years of working in the clock repair and restoration business I now know that the perceived value of a longcase clock can be greater than its monetary value. Call the Clock Repairer When visiting one of my many long standing customers, an elderly lady who had been widowed for many years who had…
Read moreSome of the techniques when cutting out fret patterns have always been the same techniques and methods used over the years when working with longcase clocks. I find them easy and most importantly faster when trying to make a living repairing or building new longcase clocks. Having cut out hundreds of fret patterns when working…
Read moreThe thing about making a longcase clock completely from scratch is you have to acquire a lot of skills, from engineering skills for making the movement, painting skills for the dial, and cabinet making skills for making the case. So to make a longcase clock that was constructed in the style and looked like the…
Read moreCase design is not such a formidable task as you may think; it can be done with a little research and the basic skills in technical drawing. If you covered this at school you’re already halfway there. Although there are advanced drawing programs you can use on computers today, we still use the old method…
Read moreMaking a longcase clock is probably one of the easiest pieces of furniture to make as there is no complicated jointing to contend with, but there is one or two point you must be aware of before you take on the task. 1. Buying Timber So you’re going to need timber but before you go…
Read moreGrandfather clocks or longcase clocks as they are known in the trade are one of the very few actual working antique pieces of furniture you can purchase today, but you must be aware that buying a clock that does not work can represent a real risk. With their mechanical movements which have most probably been…
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