Mechanical Clock Movements

ESCAPEMENT is part of the clock that controls speed and regularity by converting continuous rotational energy into discrete motions. This is accomplished through the use of gears and a lever attached to a pendulum. the most common form in use today powered by key wound springs.

When the pendulum swings the lever locks in the tooth of the gear, this is the tick. The back swing of the pendulum the lever releases the gear, this is the tock. The process is repeated over an over until the clock needs winding. Thus, the familiar tick tock of a clock. The speed and accuracy of the clock is achieved by adjusting the pendulum bob up or down. Adjusting the bob up speeds the clock, adjusting the bob down slows the clock.

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Mechanical Clock Movements

The earliest escapement can be traced back to a Buddhist monk Yi Xing in china around 725A.D. He was also a Chinese astronomer, mathematician, and mechanical engineer of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). His contribution was designing and operating a water-powered armillary sphere.

Many escapements have been designed and developed over the years. One that predates the pendulum around 1275A.D. is the Verge escapement, also known as the crown-wheel-and-verge escapement. This escapement design and function is similar to a teeter- totter on a playground. The problem was this system had no natural frequency of oscillation, it is simply force pushing inertia around.

The next development was attaching the verge escapement to a pendulum. Galileo had the idea for a pendulum clock in 1637. This increased the accuracy of clocks enormously, from about 15 minutes per day to 15 seconds per day, leading to their rapid spread as existing clocks were retrofitted with pendulums. In order for this to work the axis of the verge became horizontal. This design was good at keeping time, but the swing of the pendulum was very wide up to 100 degrees.

Anchor escapement also known as recoil escapement was the next big development in 1670. The swing of the pendulum was greatly reduced to 4-6 degrees. The teeth of an anchor escape wheel project radially from the edge of the wheel, much like an up side down anchor. The second pendulum clock was built by Christian Huygens, in 1673. Development of this escapement allowed the introduction of the long clock better know as a grandfather clock, made by William Clement around 1680. The increased accuracy resulting from these developments caused the minute hand, previously rare, to be added to clock faces beginning around 1690.

Improvements in designs lead to the Dead beat escapement introduced around 1715 by George Graham. This design lead to the lever escapement. The up side down anchor was given a rounded edge so as not to lock the gear. This allowed the pendulum to operate the clock on both back and forth swings. Wear on the escapement was greatly reduced. In most wall clocks that use a pendulum, the pendulum swings once per second. In small cuckoo clocks the pendulum might swing twice a second. In large grandfather clocks, the pendulum swings once every two seconds,

The lever escapement is widely used and very accurate. Clocks today have a very long and rich history. Depending on which clock suits your need or desire you can have confidence in there accuracy and dependability.

Mechanical Clock Movements

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Candle Clocks - History and Purpose

Candle clocks are one of the ways that ancient people attempted to use natural phenomenon to keep accurate record of the time during the day. They consist of a long thin candle, which is marked at even intervals. When the candle is lit it burns down at a relatively steady pace, and by keeping track of which mark the flame is at, you can get a rough estimate of how much time has passed since it was lit.

It is almost impossible to know when the first candle clock was used, as the practice of marking candles may have been in use throughout the world for centuries before it was ever recorded. Our first written reference to the use of a kind of candle clock comes from a poem written by Chinese thinker You Jiangu, around the year 520 AD. In the work, the candle clock is referenced as a way of telling what time it was during the night, when the sun could not be used. We also have evidence of these candles being used in Japan until about the 10th century AD.

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The most famous candle clock was used by King Alfred the Great of England. This clock consisted of six candles, each crafted to be exactly twelve inches in height, and precisely uniform in width. These candles each had 12 marks, with each mark representing twenty minutes, and the entire candle set to burn away every four hours. At four hours each the 6 candles were able to maintain a steady reading of the time, for a full 24 hour period, without being replenished. The candles themselves were protected by wooden frames with glass paneling that allowed the time to be monitored.

Candle Clocks - History and Purpose

In 1206 Al-Jazari fashioned what are considered the most complex and ingenuous candle clocks ever made. These clocks used weight and counterbalance, to move a series of automata which displayed a read out of the time. As the candle burned, it became lighter, and the counterweights would move, allowing the device to operate. These clocks were the first to use a bayonet fitting, which is a fastening mechanism which is still employed to this day.

While candle clocks were relatively accurate, it was still impossible to completely control the speed at which the flame would burn and the max would melt. The fact that the max would melt unevenly could also cause problems with the accuracy of these timepieces. They were generally abandoned in favor of mechanical clocks once they became widely available.

Candle Clocks - History and Purpose

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Wall Clocks

Digital technology may have already progressed exponentially, but most of us still have a rather strange attraction to analog wall clocks. Who can blame us? These grand timepieces symbolize a period in human history when craftsmanship was much more important than technology.

History of wall clocks

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The modern-day wall clocks we have today come from a long line of crude clocks.

Wall Clocks

The Sundial. The earliest clock instrument used for telling time was the sundial. The sundial tells the time of the day based on the shadows that the sun's rays cast on the marked surfaces. In its crudest form, the sundial is made up of poles or sticks set on the ground. Most wall clocks are still hinged on the sundial's look - in fact, some wall clocks are purposely designed to look like old sundials.

Wall clocks with brass dials. These were perhaps the earliest wall clocks made for mass use. But back then, these timepieces were very expensive. It took craftsmen several months to finish one. Only the nobility were able to display these brass dials in their mansions and palaces.

Start of the painted dials. Britain was first to revamp the traditional brass dials and introduce the modern clock dials we have today. Painted dials soon grew in popularity and were produced for the use of the masses. During this era, wall clocks started to be used not only for timekeeping but also as decorative and commemorative pieces. British capitalists started to use them to mark and celebrate various religious and cultural events and even famous sports and war victories.

Modern wall clocks. Most modern wall clocks are now mass-produced and made of cheaper materials such as plastic and metal. Technology enables manufacturers to fabricate wall clocks quickly without sacrificing quality. These pieces are now available for as little as .

There are still, however, specially made clocks that are loyal to original craftsmanship and design. These types still cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, but many people invest in them for decorative purposes - and their decision makes sense. Wall clocks are, after all, still cheaper than paintings but add just the same character and elegance to any wall.

Wall Clocks

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All About Decorative Wall Clocks

A wall clock is one of the most functional and decorative pieces in any home. With the advance in technology, digital clocks have become popular but still the prominence of wall clocks have not diminished. Even today most people prefer traditional varieties as it exudes a unique charm and classic elegance. Traditional clocks with minute hands and second hands are used even in schools so that children can learn to tell time accurately.

Wall clocks are both functional and decorative with its unique shapes and styles. Today timepieces are used to add to the decor of a home as there are a huge variety of clocks available today.

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Most people prefer to use decorative wall clocks as it enhances the decor of the entire room. Decorative clocks are made of different materials which include wood, silver, metal and acrylic. Today it is easy to find clocks based on different themes. There are clocks which are designed specifically for kids with beautiful shapes resembling cartoon characters.

All About Decorative Wall Clocks

Pendulum wall clocks are the traditional varieties of timepieces which are still bought by most of the people. These traditional varieties add a classic touch to any decor. It exudes a rustic appeal to homes and office spaces. Modern pendulum clocks are battery operated unlike the older models which included keys. The pendulums are placed behind etched glass doors. Modern pendulum clocks are available with a number of additional features such as hourly sounds, night time sound shut-off system and so forth. It is available in a huge variety of shapes and styles which include plain, octagonal and carved tops.

Hand crafted cuckoo clocks are available even today in most of the online and offline stores. The cuckoo comes through a small door of the clock to announce the hours. It was one of the most popular decorative clocks found in most of the homes. Today these clocks are available with many elaborate features.

Standard clocks include a simple round clock with black numbers and white face. Today standard clocks are available in a huge variety of shapes and styles. Standard clocks are available in different materials which include metal, wood, plastic and so forth.

There are many attractive varieties of wall clocks available online at unbelievable prices. Some of the most unique types of clocks include the wooden time-pieces with studded gems. There are designer clocks which are available at reasonable prices. One of the most exclusive pieces includes the dancing African ladies studded with exquisite gemstones. It is rectangular in shape and can add elegance to any room.

Decorative clocks are also made available according to the requisites of the customers. Digital clocks are also made available through online stores at various price rates. There are online stores which showcase timepieces with mosaic works on it which appears exclusive and unique.

All About Decorative Wall Clocks

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