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A break from tanks

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:56 pm
by Allan Richards
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)

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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:25 pm
by Steve Norris
Very impressive Allan,
Steve

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:45 pm
by Stewart Ashton
Allan

Fabulous work :)

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

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

Regards Stewart

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

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:40 pm
by Allan Richards
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.

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:55 pm
by Paul Wills
Hi Allan,

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

Paul :wink: .