Advice wanted on long case clock design

I want to build a long case clock, but I'm having difficulty choosing a design. This is going to be a major investment in time and cash, so I want to get it right.

I want the clock to be accurate, and I'm not concerned about it striking, so a regulator is attractive. However, most regulator designs seem to have separate dials for hours and minutes, and this does not go down well with the domestic authority. I bought Peter Heimans regulator clock book thinking this might be an appropriate design, but only his month going variant has a conventional dial, and I prefer the simplicity of an eight day movement. I've also seen the Claude Reeve gravity escapement design, which also looks interesting, but I've read that the escapement is difficult to get right, and it looks as though the plates would be a life's work to fret out.

Any comments on the two designs I've mentioned would be appreciated, as would any suggestions for other designs which might be appropriate.

Thanks

Mike

I have not made a clock yet, so take what I say with some caution...

The 'regulator' bit is the 'scape wheel and pallets. So, could you put the regulator 'scape wheel & pallets into the Timmins 8 day clock design? Everything else of the Timmins design could then be left alone, giving a nice 8 day clock face.

Regards,

Richard.

Edited to add Timmins clock link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Eight-Day-Longcase-Clock/dp/0905100387/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484047200&sr=1-1&keywords=timmins+longcase

Edited By richardandtracy on 10/01/2017 11:20:29

Regards,

Hi Mike, I have made(about 25 years ago) and was very pleased with the result, Alan Timmins long case clock and would recommend it . It is quite conventional in design and still keeps good time, I think the book is still available from people such as John Wilding and Ian Cob. I have no experience to offer on the others that you refer to, but no doubt others on here will be able to advise. regards, John

I would second the advice re the Alan Timmins long case clock The book is excellent

Roy

Hi some 15+ years ago I built the Timmins clock and it turned out to be a great time keeper admired by many highly recomend

i was quite lucky with the case I have a thatch cottage that was being thatched there were several oak A frames that needed to be removed the case was made from them

A couple of points you could consider use reclaimed timber if possible you could also look at meadows and passmore web site for further clock designs if they still do them

Thanks chaps, that's 4 votes for the Timmins design. Interesting because it was not one that I had considered. I will definitely investigate further.

I'd still be interested in hearing from anyone with experience of the Heiman and/or Reeves regulator designs, or any other designs which might fill the bill.

Mike

Hello Mike, I made Peter Heimans 8 day regulator in 2007, my first clock.After a few problems which seems normal with your first clock, it has turned out to be an excellent timekeeper over the ten years since 2007.

I have also made three other clocks to the same basic design, using the same wheel count but with the addition of motion work below the dial.This allows the use of concentric hour and minute hands which is what you are after. All three clocks have been successful,altho all have some differences. The last also has a half hour striking train on two bells and date work. Would not recommend this for a first clock tho.

The Heiman book has all the drawings you need and the addition of motion work is not overly complicated. I did simplify the design somewhat by using only two plates

Hope this helps. Chid Cope..

Chid

That's very interesting. I did like the Heimann design. Can you give me some more information about adding the motion work? Did you use the arrangement used on the month going version? What changes are needed to the plates?

Thanks

Mike

Hello Mike, The motion work can be the same as on the 30 day clock.

The hour wheel now becomes a 60t,1.483" dia, and mounted on the centre arbor.

Both plates were 6" x 6", and spaced 3" apart. All arbors were made to suit.

Because you will be using a long case design you will get a longer fall for the weight (into the plinth), so you can delete the sub barrel, just move the main barrel further to the left so that it clears the pendulum as it would if the sub barrel was used. Very easy to fit a passing strike on the hour if you want to.

If I can help any time ,let me know. Hope you enjoy the project.

Chid.