I took my Big Ben Deluxe Style 2 apart to oil and clean the pivots, but I wasn't clear as to where the dust sealing caps were placed when the bell casing was removed. Your video showed me exactly how to place them in proper orientation for reassembly. Your video has helped to resuscitate another Big Ben. Thanks for your time and effort to produce it. Very helpful.
Have that exact clock. Am amazed at the inner workings and really in awe of what you do to keep them working. Soo much work and the patience you must have. Thank you for showing this. Hopefully not a lost art. Love the sound by the way.
An extremely good video, thank you for all the trouble you took in making it and also for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I've read about re-bushing like that (ie from scratch with brass rod) but I'd never seen it done before. I also appreciated the section on looking at the poise of the balance wheel - again something I knew nothing about. Once more, thank you very much
When people come to visit everyone stops talking every 15 minutes because all you can hear are clocks chiming. Then the conversation continues when the last clock finishes chiming. I'm known as the old eccentric guy who lives on Painter Street. I guess that's a pretty accurate description.
Yes, they are on whole different level, from a jeweled pocket watch. All in a days work, helping those in need of getting their family heirlooms back running.
Adorable work, it could not has been made better! I got exactly the same clock, in relatively good condition. Mine has shiny nickel finish and its plastic base is metallized in some way. Perfect Art-Deco style example. Bought it cheap, it hardly makes any tick and stops. It looks very well made and labor invested, compared to later alarm clocks, even though there are no jewels in it. Its heavy weight alone is something you won't find in alarm clock made in the end of the century. Your video is very helpful and inspirational.
Thanks, Sounds like yours is in good shape. Hope you are able to figure out how to make it go. A lot of these suffer from old oil that has dried up to a thick grease consistency.
In the last couple of days I bought two Westclox similar to the ones you reconditioned. I have a lathe mill and most tools; but will be making some additional purchases. Thanks for sharing your skills.
50:30 Nice observation. Took me a good bit of learning to realize that the hair spring and balance wheel is basically a torsion pendulum (like on the 400 day clocks, but instead of twisting a spring, you're coiling and uncoiling one) and that altering the weight of the wheel changes the moment of inertia, thus impacting the period and needs to be corrected for by altering the length of the spring.
I’ve always been amazed on the amount of moving parts and how small some of them are in clocks. I have a clock that was made in Czechoslovakia and the brand is Prim. It doesn’t work but would have no clue where to even get it fixed. Completely in awe of your talent.
Unlike many other brands and models, westclox has movements that stand out for their higher frequency, good balance amplitude and extra power Bigben and babyben movements have a straight line between escape wheel, anchor and balance, and this makes running smoother. But westclox bingo and other moves are also very good. here in Brazil westclox manufactured many good quality watches, unfortunately it closed. Currently only one factory still produces wind-up alarm clocks, HERWEG.@@jamesmartin5370
That Big Ben Deluxe is one of my favorites. They used pot metal during the great depression to save money and stay in business. The trouble was it couldn't take any abuse like brass could.
Very much enjoyed this video very educational. Thank you very much for sharing. I work more on Ives or Birge Triple deckers and other weight clocks pre 1860. So seeing much more intricate movements is exciting and educational for me. Hello from the Brushy mountains of North Carolina.
A lot of those Ives clocks have wooden gears, great clocks. I have an Ogee that the lower tablet needs to be preserved or restored, its got a good original lithograph in the center but more than 50% of the paint they used around the lithograph has lost its bond to the glass and has separated. Not sure if I should restore or just preserve it at this point.
So THIS is how you polish the pivots without a lathe. My one worry about this method is the availability of the polishing compounds. (Thanks for making this video and elaborating on this stuff)
Thanks James. I would like to see a more detailed explanation of: 1) How to position the balance wheel, hairspring, etc. so the clock is in beat and not running too fast. I didn’t understand what you were saying. I have one clock that is running wildly fast. 2) Getting the alarm setting right upon reassembly. I have trouble with the tiny alarm hand wanting to not stay put and what I call “following” or moving to where the hour hand goes. There is a ramp type affair in there and I guess I am not getting that part right. These two problems have always been a bit of a mystery to me.
I will work on getting how to get a clock in beat it in another video for you. Basically in this clock the pivot centers of the balance shaft, pallet fork shaft, and escape wheel shaft are all lined up in a straight line. Take all three pivot points and put a straight edge on them and you will see they are all in line with each other. So then when the balance wheel is at rest (no power from mainspring or pressure from hairspring) the impulse pin on the balance wheel needs to be positioned, so that it lines up on the same straight line as the pivots of balance shaft, pallet fork, and escape wheel. If the impulse pin location is adjusted by rotating hairspring collet on the balance staff. If you have a clock that is running too fast, could be a number of items. Hair spring needs to be running free between the air space in the regulator or it could cause clock to run fast. So when clock is running, look at the hairspring where it goes through the regulator, with each direction change of balance wheel the spring should move freely within the air space in the regulator and touch both sides in the regulator, if hairspring is bent it will always touch one side of the regulator and the clock could run too fast. Hair spring might have oil or curd stuck on the coils, this will cause it to run fast. Hairspring might be pinned in wrong location, causing a shorter amount of hairspring to be used than what it was originally timed to. Someone in the past may have broke the hair spring where it is pinned and spring might be too short now and not matched to weight of balance wheel anymore. Some one could have installed incorrect mainspring, too strong, too much power for it. Check these and get back to me if needed. The ramp type of affair once installed needs to rotated until it clicks, this puts it in position for the hand to be mounted. The ramp set-up on the alarm cam can be rotated until it snaps into position to turn the alarm on. Once in this position, the alarm hand can be installed (usually at the 12:00 position) then the hour hand is installed at the same (12:00 position) This will make the alarm ring at correct position when in use. When setting the time if turning hands backwards, once the hour hand comes into same position as alarm setting hand, alarm hand should start to move and point at the same hour number on dial as the hour hand. If they don't, the hour hand needs to be removed and re-positioned to match the alarm hand.
Mark, Additional information on your number 2 question. If the aarm hand is wanting to follow or move where the hour hand goes, there is an adjustment that needs to be make. Pull off the alarm setting knob. There is a threaded brass round stock threaded onto this shaft that should be resting against what is called a washer, trip staff friction,its the egg shaped tension washer. The shaft is not snug enough against this tension washer. Take a very small pair of pliers with teeth on the jaws and tighten the threaded brass round stock slightly. Then try setting the hands for the time clock wise, tighten the threaded brass round stock little by little until the alarm hand doesn't follow the hour hand. Hope this solves the issue.
Another great video and very useful techniques. Getting the the clock in beat was pretty straightforward in the video but your description in the replies below made it crystal clear to me. Quite a bit of tweaking to get it just right. When poising the balance staff, is that a trial and error task? Brilliant repair to the pot metal, especially with using cast iron powder. I will definitely use that method in the future. Not just on clocks. Thank you again for sharing your procedures.
Yes, poising the balance wheel is trial and error task. Remove small amounts of material and set the wheel back on the poising tool and observe the results. This wheel was close so, I decided to leave it as is. Some times they have corrosion on them, this throws them off to the point that they need some attention before they will keep time.
Understood, I recently got a different microphone that filters out most of the clock ticks now. And have moved the loud tickers to the other side of the room which has helped tone the noise down. Ticking clocks is all part of the business that needs to be done before sending them home with the customer. My wife has suggested some sound deadening paint or material for the room because of the noise, maybe I will look into that as well. .Thanks
@@jamesmartin5370Hi James, this is a very late reply, but if you are still considering sound deadening I can tell you that the paints won’t help much. There are very effective sound deadening materials available, but they can be expensive. It is possible to achieve excellent results using much cheaper materials if you know what’s required. If you would like some advice in this regard, just let me know. I enjoy the ticking in your videos, but I can understand that your wife might like to keep the sound from spreading beyond the room.
I took my Big Ben Deluxe Style 2 apart to oil and clean the pivots, but I wasn't clear as to where the dust sealing caps were placed when the bell casing was removed. Your video showed me exactly how to place them in proper orientation for reassembly.
Your video has helped to resuscitate another Big Ben. Thanks for your time and effort to produce it. Very helpful.
Great to hear
A true artisan at work, grave on Sir, you are the best!!!
Thanks Richard.
Have that exact clock. Am amazed at the inner workings and really in awe of what you do to keep them working. Soo much work and the patience you must have. Thank you for showing this. Hopefully not a lost art. Love the sound by the way.
Yes, they were well made clocks.
An extremely good video, thank you for all the trouble you took in making it and also for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I've read about re-bushing like that (ie from scratch with brass rod) but I'd never seen it done before. I also appreciated the section on looking at the poise of the balance wheel - again something I knew nothing about. Once more, thank you very much
Thanks, bushings made this way give an infinite selection of sizes and configurations, pre-made are good but options are limited to what is supplied.
And, you have the perfect watchmakers voice with wonderful ticking all around.
Most of my grandchildren say the room is haunted with all that ticking but I like it same as you.
When people come to visit everyone stops talking every 15 minutes because all you can hear are clocks chiming. Then the conversation continues when the last clock finishes chiming. I'm known as the old eccentric guy who lives on Painter Street. I guess that's a pretty accurate description.
I really enjoyed your video! Generally watchmakers don't like to fix alarm clocks, you do it with a lot of affection, Congrats!
Yes, they are on whole different level, from a jeweled pocket watch.
All in a days work, helping those in need of getting their family heirlooms back running.
Adorable work, it could not has been made better! I got exactly the same clock, in relatively good condition. Mine has shiny nickel finish and its plastic base is metallized in some way. Perfect Art-Deco style example. Bought it cheap, it hardly makes any tick and stops. It looks very well made and labor invested, compared to later alarm clocks, even though there are no jewels in it. Its heavy weight alone is something you won't find in alarm clock made in the end of the century. Your video is very helpful and inspirational.
Thanks,
Sounds like yours is in good shape.
Hope you are able to figure out how to make it go.
A lot of these suffer from old oil that has dried up to a thick grease consistency.
In the last couple of days I bought two Westclox similar to the ones you reconditioned. I have a lathe mill and most tools; but will be making some additional purchases. Thanks for sharing your skills.
Sounds great, let me know how they turn out....
50:30 Nice observation. Took me a good bit of learning to realize that the hair spring and balance wheel is basically a torsion pendulum (like on the 400 day clocks, but instead of twisting a spring, you're coiling and uncoiling one) and that altering the weight of the wheel changes the moment of inertia, thus impacting the period and needs to be corrected for by altering the length of the spring.
I’ve always been amazed on the amount of moving parts and how small some of them are in clocks. I have a clock that was made in Czechoslovakia and the brand is Prim. It doesn’t work but would have no clue where to even get it fixed.
Completely in awe of your talent.
Thanks, Hope you are able to get your Prim working some day.
Can't believe I watched the entire thing. I also learned some useful things. Thank you for posting this!
I try to make them about 1/2 hour long but this clock had a lot of issues to cover, thanks for the comment.
A mechanical artist!!
Thanks Robert,
These rugged movements and need a tune up once in a while just like any other movement.
Very good job. Thise movements are absolutily thes best design.
I agree, they were built to last and keep good time as well
Unlike many other brands and models, westclox has movements that stand out for their higher frequency, good balance amplitude and extra power
Bigben and babyben movements have a straight line between escape wheel, anchor and balance, and this makes running smoother. But westclox bingo and other moves are also very good. here in Brazil westclox manufactured many good quality watches, unfortunately it closed. Currently only one factory still produces wind-up alarm clocks, HERWEG.@@jamesmartin5370
And one more detail that I forgot. The shape of the scape weel and anchor pins are unique in the big ben compared to others models.
@@mauriciosinigaglia4761 They built them well to last this long, The movements were also gold gilt.
That Big Ben Deluxe is one of my favorites. They used pot metal during the great depression to save money and stay in business. The trouble was it couldn't take any abuse like brass could.
yes, they have a nice loud tick to them,
Very much enjoyed this video very educational. Thank you very much for sharing. I work more on Ives or Birge Triple deckers and other weight clocks pre 1860. So seeing much more intricate movements is exciting and educational for me.
Hello from the Brushy mountains of North Carolina.
A lot of those Ives clocks have wooden gears, great clocks.
I have an Ogee that the lower tablet needs to be preserved or restored, its got a good original lithograph in the center but more than 50% of the paint they used around the lithograph has lost its bond to the glass and has separated. Not sure if I should restore or just preserve it at this point.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video and learned a lot!
Thanks Ron, it was a fun project
Excellent job.Thanks and all the best.
Thank You,
Its surprising how these old inexpensive Westclox movements have proven their reliability time and time again.
Very rugged time peices.
@@jamesmartin5370
Very true.I have two of them in working condition. Regards.
So THIS is how you polish the pivots without a lathe. My one worry about this method is the availability of the polishing compounds.
(Thanks for making this video and elaborating on this stuff)
Lathe is always better but when in a jamb there is always another way of doing things.
Please remind me what the name is of the polishing compound you used. Thanks.
Thanks James.
I would like to see a more detailed explanation of:
1) How to position the balance wheel, hairspring, etc. so the clock is in beat and not running too fast. I didn’t understand what you were saying.
I have one clock that is running wildly fast.
2) Getting the alarm setting right upon reassembly. I have trouble with the tiny alarm hand wanting to not stay put and what I call “following” or moving to where the hour hand goes. There is a ramp type affair in there and I guess I am not getting that part right.
These two problems have always been a bit of a mystery to me.
I will work on getting how to get a clock in beat it in another video for you.
Basically in this clock the pivot centers of the balance shaft, pallet fork shaft, and escape wheel shaft are all lined up in a straight line.
Take all three pivot points and put a straight edge on them and you will see they are all in line with each other.
So then when the balance wheel is at rest (no power from mainspring or pressure from hairspring) the impulse pin on the balance wheel needs to be positioned, so that it lines up on the same straight line as the pivots of balance shaft, pallet fork, and escape wheel.
If the impulse pin location is adjusted by rotating hairspring collet on the balance staff.
If you have a clock that is running too fast, could be a number of items.
Hair spring needs to be running free between the air space in the regulator or it could cause clock to run fast.
So when clock is running, look at the hairspring where it goes through the regulator, with each direction change of balance wheel the spring should move freely within the air space in the regulator and touch both sides in the regulator, if hairspring is bent it will always touch one side of the regulator and the clock could run too fast.
Hair spring might have oil or curd stuck on the coils, this will cause it to run fast.
Hairspring might be pinned in wrong location, causing a shorter amount of hairspring to be used than what it was originally timed to.
Someone in the past may have broke the hair spring where it is pinned and spring might be too short now and not matched to weight of balance wheel anymore.
Some one could have installed incorrect mainspring, too strong, too much power for it.
Check these and get back to me if needed.
The ramp type of affair once installed needs to rotated until it clicks, this puts it in position for the hand to be mounted.
The ramp set-up on the alarm cam can be rotated until it snaps into position to turn the alarm on.
Once in this position, the alarm hand can be installed (usually at the 12:00 position) then the hour hand is installed at the same (12:00 position)
This will make the alarm ring at correct position when in use.
When setting the time if turning hands backwards, once the hour hand comes into same position as alarm setting hand, alarm hand should start to move and point at the same hour number on dial as the hour hand. If they don't, the hour hand needs to be removed and re-positioned to match the alarm hand.
Mark,
Additional information on your number 2 question.
If the aarm hand is wanting to follow or move where the hour hand goes, there is an adjustment that needs to be make.
Pull off the alarm setting knob.
There is a threaded brass round stock threaded onto this shaft that should be resting against what is called a washer, trip staff friction,its the egg shaped tension washer.
The shaft is not snug enough against this tension washer.
Take a very small pair of pliers with teeth on the jaws and tighten the threaded brass round stock slightly.
Then try setting the hands for the time clock wise, tighten the threaded brass round stock little by little until the alarm hand doesn't follow the hour hand.
Hope this solves the issue.
Another great video and very useful techniques. Getting the the clock in beat was pretty straightforward in the video but your description in the replies below made it crystal clear to me. Quite a bit of tweaking to get it just right.
When poising the balance staff, is that a trial and error task?
Brilliant repair to the pot metal, especially with using cast iron powder. I will definitely use that method in the future. Not just on clocks.
Thank you again for sharing your procedures.
Yes, poising the balance wheel is trial and error task.
Remove small amounts of material and set the wheel back on the poising tool and observe the results.
This wheel was close so, I decided to leave it as is.
Some times they have corrosion on them, this throws them off to the point that they need some attention before they will keep time.
Tough fingers
Parts are very hard to find... I have two movements that need hairsprings and escapement.
I agree,
With no new parts being fabricated anymore, parts supply is drying up.
We called pot metal muckite.
Thanks Francis,
I've never heard that term before.
Well, we learn something old everyday.
Thanks, a new term for me to start using.
Love your videos but the annoying ticking of all the clocks in the background make them impossible to watch!
Understood,
I recently got a different microphone that filters out most of the clock ticks now.
And have moved the loud tickers to the other side of the room which has helped tone the noise down.
Ticking clocks is all part of the business that needs to be done before sending them home with the customer.
My wife has suggested some sound deadening paint or material for the room because of the noise, maybe I will look into that as well.
.Thanks
@@jamesmartin5370 I like the sound of the clocks in the background. It's perfect!
I have had a few people tell me that they knew that I was in my shop because they could hear all the ticking. I think it's cool.
@@jamesmartin5370Hi James, this is a very late reply, but if you are still considering sound deadening I can tell you that the paints won’t help much.
There are very effective sound deadening materials available, but they can be expensive.
It is possible to achieve excellent results using much cheaper materials if you know what’s required.
If you would like some advice in this regard, just let me know.
I enjoy the ticking in your videos, but I can understand that your wife might like to keep the sound from spreading beyond the room.
Not. Big. Ben