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Torsion clock pendulum project

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EricB:
The thing that got me started in model engineering was clock collecting. Somewhere along the way I figured I would need to learn to fix them too so I started with what I could do with only hand tools.

In 2010 I acquired my first torsion pendulum clock, an Atmos. That lead me to get a second torsion clock, a 400 Day or "Anniversary" clock. Over 130 clocks later brings me to this project.

In 1981 the August Schatz Co. celebrated their 100th anniversary in the clock business. To commemorate the event they issued 3000 numbered "Jubilee" clocks based on a design they had made in the mid 1880s. I already have one, but recently I found a second without the pendulum. I don't expect to find a loose pendulum any time soon so I decided to make one.

EricB:
The two small disks on top of the large disk are for adjusting the time keeping. They run on a screw that has left and right hand threads on the opposite ends. That way turning the screw will move both weights in oposite directions, toward the outer edge of the large disk to slow the clock or toward the center post to speed it up.

I could probably make the screw but I had some parts to salvage from a clock made in the early 1880s.

EricB:
I did not have the brass for the large disk, so I started with the center post.

Thinking I could save some effort, I reused the bottom nut from the 1880s parts. I found out today that was a bad choice. Anyway, I made threads to match the nut and turned the rest of the post to match my sample.

EricB:
The slug for the large disk arrived, so I converted about 2/3 of it into swarf. What started as 750 grams is now just 222.

I use Sherline tools. This part was too big for the chuck and stalled the motor several times but I finally got through it. I turned a bit on the outer edge thinking I would use that to dial it in when I reversed it on a 4-jaw chuck. Then I just used the same 3 jaw. I later put it on the mandrel I made later and trued up the OD.

The finish on the top did not come out as nice as I would like. I had some trouble with chatter at the outer edge.

EricB:
The next part was the center finial.

By now I've made quite a few finials for myself and other peoples clocks, normally in groups of three that need to match. Making just the one is much less taxing. The basic shape was roughed out with round nosed tools and I finished using gravers.

On this pendulum the finial is the nut that holds the gallery in place where most are just decorative. The bottom was threaded as was the top of the center post.

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