Horology Open Day, near J6 M25, Sat 9th April, 10 AM - 4PM

I hope this will be an engaging event for engineers. Two good sized halls filled with practical demonstrations (e.g. lathe work (turning a pivot staff), straight line engine turning, engraving), clocks, watches, musical boxes, turret clocks, tool sales, and information on training opportunities.

There will be interactive exhibits designed for younger visitors.

Just come and walk around for a while, or get involved in the exhibits, or talk to amateurs and professionals about clocks, watches, and associated engineering.

Free entry, free tea/coffee, 1 minute from Caterham train station. 10 mins by car north of J6 of M25.

The latest details are available on the SLBBHI (South London Branch British Horological Institue) here :

http://slbbhi.co.uk/?page_id=1317

Saturday 9th April 2016. 10am until 4pm at Soper Hall, Caterham (http://soperhall.org.uk/contact/)

I reckon there should be a good hours entertainment if you stay for a tea and have a go at engine turning or get instruction on how to use a hand-graver on the lathe.

Nice idea, thanks for the heads up.

I'm actually getting excited about this - just hope I have a chance to see everything.

If anyone from here comes along then ask for me and I'll make sure you get looked after.

I added a bit more info about some exhibitors and their websites here: http://slbbhi.co.uk/?page_id=1317

A good opportunity to discuss your first clock making project ;(

I looked in on this event this morning thinking that a few minutes would suffice....in the event we were there for over two hours and there was lots to see and admire, not the least being the many clocks made by members of S.London BHI. The ambiance was excellent and everyone was very friendly and open with much info being freely imparted to anyone who showed a genuine interest. Tea and coffee free with chunk of cake...Two large rooms full of goodies to admire and lots of interesting people to talk to.

The clocks featured some spectacular items...apart from Ron Rose's fantastic 'millenium no.2', an incredible piece of work that I have seen and admired before, there were two exhuisite skeletons made by Peter Warrington. One of these was a 'merlin' movement recently mentioned here. Both clocks were wonderfully well finished and gold plated. Peter made these with the most basic equipement....just a lathe with home made attachments including a tool post spindle fashioned from a "door stop"...!?! His bundle of construction photos were as interesting as the clocks themselves. Just as interesting were the many 'original' clocks from about 1690 to the Victorian era including several lantern clocks with only a single hand and plenty of unrestored heirlooms to lust over!

In addition to the SLBHI members there were numerous horological folk who had been roped in as well including other clubs and societies such as West Dean College and Antiquarian Horological Society etc. There was a man ready to show anyone who asked how to build and veneer a clock case using his several part built cases fashioned from reclaimed timber and verneer and clock face painters and horological suppliers. You could examine the workbench of a Victorian watchmaker and admire early electric clocks.

The 'practical' room featured benches with several sets of 'turns' in operation, ornamental engine turning in a corner and several other machines in operation to entice the unwary to 'have a go'...also dial silvering and clock hand making. The above only scratches the surface of what was there to see and I hope that they repeat the show next year and that i can go again!

Well Done to everyone who was involved and congratulations on a fantastic show!

Edited By Bob Stevenson on 09/04/2016 21:01:00

Thank you so much for the review. I think at least one other member here drove 140 miles and wasn't dissapointed. Albert Hindsight suggests to me that maybe I could have made a little more of the event myself but it met and exceeded all my expectations.

Sorry I didn't get to knowingly meet any of you - as Bob said, the environment was immediately inviting and engaging and anyone who made it through the front door just got sucked into the atmosphere.

In case I did meet anyone - I was sometimes on the straight line machine. I'm not going to tell people where to get on even when I find out... as I want one myself. If you want a go, then we can arrange a days course (at Soper Hall) for a small fee to give introductory instruction - drop me PM anyone interested.

Thanks for a great day.

Jack