Behind the Scenes: Conservation of Jefferson's Great Clock 

I worked there in the '80s. One of my duties was to wind the clock on Sunday mornings. The cannon balls had been suspended on metal cables. One day when I was winding the clock the cable on the right broke sending the cannon balls falling through the hole in the floor down to the basement. There was no damage to the clock but this precipitated the decision to replace the wire cables with ropes as they were in Jefferson's time. The original ropes were made of hemp and since that was not an option at the time we made new ropes with linen.

Really glad Phil Collins is taking care of Mr. Jefferson's clock.

I visited this home in 1981 and watched this clock for some time and was fascinated by it. Thank You for making this video. It was very interesting.

I must confess that as a restorer of Renaissance clocks, collector of 17th and 18th century watches and former employee of Colonial Williamsburg where I was a clock and scientific instrument maker at the James Geddy shop, I found the use of incorrect horological terminology a bit frustrating. Namely, the movement IS THE CLOCK and the wooden outer part is the CASE. Not the other way around. Also the part of the clock that keeps time is called the HOUR TRAIN and the sound producing part is the STRIKE TRAIN. Lastly, it is my personal opinion that the original clock-maker was not particularly skilled in his design. Having to cut holes in the floor to accommodate the length of travel of the weights is not something to brag about. Also, if one of the cables were to break, the clock would suddenly be pulled sideways which could result in great damage. However, if the cables were to have exited at the bottom with a pulleys below that to direct the cable sideways, then the force would always be downward upon the support frame. But we cannot change history. Nevertheless, I am glad to see that the timepiece was faithfully restored/conserved, and appreciate that you folks shared a video about the process.

Love these new videos. They bring me right back to Monticello and the most interesting mastermind of a home and a country. Thank you.

My compliments to the operator of the bounce card during exterior shots ;-)

Absolutely wonderful educational and informative video, as are all your videos. One sound technical suggestion for future videos, please keep the background music low, as it can easily dominate the narration or speaker voice.

Most enjoyable, thank you. Would love to have watched the movement's conservator work, step-by-step. As a collector of 19th c. Connecticut clocks, that would be a treat...

Can one buy a set of the detail drawings for the clock?

You have made me very happy with this restoration story.

just curious if the bong chimed all through the night too! How did anyone sleep? Fascinating video!

wonderful video--- saving a national treasure for sure

Really enjoyed this. Would love to know more about the striking mechanism, not clear how is works. Neat clock.

Thank you for sharing this. Is there any video of the clock movement repair?

I've been to Monticello only once; one of my goals this year to to visit again.

Wow. That was great!!!!

Really enjoy these videos and the conservation of such an asset. The music in the background of the speakers is really unnecessary, and at times competing with them. Keep it simple

Awesome!

Beautiful clock, but I now have a mini-crush on Tabitha!

Very interesting and educational thank you

Excellent

Wonderful

Fascinating

What about the outside face of the clock?

What is the piece of music at the end? It's incredible

How accurate is the restored clock? Does it require adjustments?

I was wondering how it was wound back in the day. Did they keep a ladder handy?

Whoever is in or made this video how long do you need to wind it up every day.😊

So....in 500 years time Jefferson's original clock mechanism will have worn away and been replaced with non Jefferson parts. Except for the cannon balls I guess.

Great video, but music in the background the entire video. WHY?? That was a terrible ideal. Extremely disappointing for such a great video.

A slave is being a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey the owner. Enslave, or enslaved person is making someone a slave. Those words to the untrained eye may be used in a similar connotation. ... If the idea is using the word enslaved person over a slave. Just to be clear...

I agree with the comment that you are using "enslaved" .Stop it!!

Hopefully our monuments will not be destroyed by Our new President

What they found ‘WAS’, not what they found, ‘WERE’. Please learn to modify our verbs properly.

Please stop using the word "enslaved person". You are re-writing history. Just call them "slaves" or don't mention them at all. It makes your narrative offensive to use the word "enslaved".

I went in 2005.....wonderful experience! We had to go into the 'James Madison suite' because a tour group came in. We weren't allowed to go upstairs. I wanted to go to the grave sites. I can remember being colder than I can remember. I used to live in NH and VT. Went in February. Bundle up and wear long johns!

I’d love to visit, however I wouldn’t want to make a transatlantic flight, and get hammered with a USA PC woke lecture.

Thomas Jefferson spent more time on his hobbies such as clocks and architecture rather than improving the living conditions of his enslaved humans