A break from tanks

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:56 pm

Over the last few months I've had a break from tank modelling and designed and built this clock from some stuff I've seen on the internet. It's all hand made, even the gears were cut by hand on a bandsaw. For those who know about clocks it has a grasshopper escapement, which is the same as that used by Harrison to make the accurate timekeepers to measure longitude. It was quite difficult to get this escapement to work right, just as Harrison describes in his books!! I've just mounted it on the wall in the dining room and it runs really well so I'm now setting the pendulam to see how accurate it will actually keep time. Once I am satisfied I will stain and varnish it and fit some proper chapter rings (clock faces)

Steve Norris · Post by **Steve Norris** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:25 pm

Very impressive Allan,
Steve

Stewart Ashton · Post by **Stewart Ashton** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:45 pm

Allan

Fabulous work

For those that have no idea who John Harrison was please read this;

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/harrison

Regards Stewart

Mike Stannard (toyrific) · Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:16 am

Fantastic work Allan and a very interesting bit of history, I see back then the government bureaucrats had a hard time parting with money even when you are entitled to it, nothing much has changed in over 400 years.

Mike

Allan Richards · Post by **Allan Richards** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:40 pm

Mike,

You are right John Harrison fought long and hard for his money but he was also fighting the lead astronomers (Astronomer Royal) who thought they could get at longitude through studying the stars and the Astronomer Royal had the ear of the Government with a "not invented here attitude.

Paul Wills · Post by **Paul Wills** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:55 pm

Hi Allan,

Great work, but you must have had too much time on your hands

Paul

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