I knew somone who made the Congreve reproductions by Dent. He told me that they worked well because the ball increases its velocity by curving the end of the track. This means the spring doesn't have to be so strong, note that Congreve's original is weight driven.
Are you familiar with Nevil Shute's Trustee from the Toolroom? It's the one book I reread from time to time. It takes place shortly after WWII and features Kieth Stewart who writes articles for a miniature mechanics magazine. He embarks on a journey from England to Tahiti to recover lost diamonds for his niece for whom he is trustee. The story is primarily about the assistance he receives from many people along the way who know of him through his writing and in particular about a series of articles on machining a Congreve clock.
Well, l wasn't familiar with this book but owing to your message, my wife bought it for me as a Christmas gift - will read in new year. I hope my clock lived up to expectations.
I love these. I'm thinking of building one of my own, using some wood plans I found online. I love clocks with unusual mechanisms, especially rolling-ball types, and this one is frankly beautiful. Nice job on it.
HI Jared. Thank you for your kind comments. I am not making a clock at the moment. However, I do have to restore a turret clock I made - it spent 12 years on the wall of my French barn as in need of some TLC. I hope to make a video of the retoration. Also, during my time in France I acquired several antique clocks from the Comte region of France and I aml proposing making a video about these clocks as well.
Nice job! I first heard of the clock from a book id read called "trustee from the toolroom ". I researched the clock now id like one but even the kits are pricey. Well done whats your next project? Just kidding....really like your clock.
Hi Janis. Thanks for comments. I have read the "Trustee" book after a viewer brought it to my attention. I see there is a Congreve for auction in Matthews (Ireland) 5th Nov. for 600 - 900 euros - cheap in my view. It has additional dials showing date, date, moon. Assuming you are not in Ireland, you could create your own "Trustee from the Toolroom" adventure by going out there to buy it! Other videos that I am working on concern French Comtoise clocks which I have restored and also the restoration of a turret clock I made but which has spent many years on the wall of a French barn Bob
Hi David. In my manual I have an appendix C in which JW discusses a variety of things. He says that in his clock, he used a spring of .45mm but suggests that a .50mm would be suitable. Regret I cant remember what I used - I may have bought the nearest available to these sizes. JW also says that if the .50mm spring is used, the barrel arbor should be machined down from 3/4 inch to 5/8 inch or even 9/16 inch. He warns against using a spring which is too strong because the ball may have difficulty in unlocking the table. JW suggests measuring between the barrel flanges to ensure obtaining a spring that will comfortably fit. Also that the centre holes in the barrel flanges should be finished with a taper broach to avoid parallel sides. Please let me know if you require further info.
Your you tube video has spurred me on to getting back to work on the Congreve clock. Is mostly completed . Have made a couple of changes from JW design. I have used 3/16 brass for the plates and mounted the table on ballrace pivots. Forsdike33@gmail.com
The clock is beautiful. I’m reading a Nevil Shute book ( Trustee from the Toolroom) where the main character makes one so I looked it up and saw yours.
Thank you for the comment. A viewer of the video asked if I had ever read Trustee From The Toolroom. I hadn't at the time but I bought the book and am now 3/4 way through.
@@bobbobtheclock638 yes, I saw that comment. Nevil was very keen on engineering, aviation, sailing and metal fatigue and wrote “No Highway”. where the tail falls off an aeroplane. This was a few years before the Comet accidents. Talk about prophetic. The Trustee book is slow but I really enjoyed it... your work is stunning. Do you make them to sell?
@@Soffity Hello again. I appreciate your comments. I don't make the clocks to sell because they are a labour of love owing to the awfully long time they take to make - it wouldn't be commercially viable without going to some form of mass production. I don't know whether you have seen my other video about a skeleton clock I made. I also made a small turret clock which I have just brought back from France having sold our house out there. I might make a video about restoring this clock as it is a little the worse for wear having spent 12 years in barn. Whilst in France I collected and restored quite a few Comtoise and Vineyard clocks so I hope to make a video about the similarities and differences of these clocks.
