Alyth High Parish Church Turret Clock. Time setting and motion works.

Description Alyth High Parish Church Turret Clock. Time setting and motion works.

Date 25/8/2023

Collection Historic Environment Scotland

Catalogue Number MV 001026

Category Digital Files (Non-image)

Scope and Content Mr Bruce Maxwell, Clock Winder at Alyth High Parish Church. The frame of this turret clock is made of cast iron and is a pin and spacer type frame. It has brass bearings - brass retains lubricant due to its porous structure as an alloy of copper and zinc and is a sacrificial metal alloy (00:26). They are also cheaper to replace (00:38) than letting the clock steel parts get damaged. The left hand side of the clock is the timekeeping side of the clock (00:47) which includes the great wheel and the winding barrel attached to which is attached to the weights via a hemp or wire rope (1:05). For this large turret clock, the weights weigh 200 pounds. The gearing for that is on the left hand side of the clock (01:17). In the centre of the clock is the pin wheel escapement connected to the clock pendulum and which is hung below via a steel spring (01:30) called the suspension spring. In the centre of the clock mechanism there is a setting dial, an hour and a friction plate (01:40). The clock can be adjusted by friction without upsetting the mechanism. There is a vertical shaft via bevel gears that goes up to the top of the clock frame (02:04) to another set of bevel gears, coming out through universal joints to each of the four sets of clock face hands (02:21). This set up is called the motion works. Each of the four clock dials are 6 ft (2m) in diameter (02:34). To the right of the clock mechanism is the strike train to which the winding barrel is connected that drives it (02:57). Its rope goes down to the strike weights - total weight 6-700 pounds (03:16). The pins at the back rotate when the weight goes down and lifts the arm up (03:29) which is connected by rope to the strike hammer in the belfry below. This part here is called the count wheel (03:44). The count wheel dictates how many chimes will happen (03:56). At the back of the clock cabinet there is a fan called the 'fly' (04:08). This activates when the big weight goes down. This fan acts as an air brake (04:26) and so when the wight stops going down the fly is on a ratchet and stops (05:03). Sound: Sound Colour: colour Running time: 5.03 mins

External Reference vimeo1030756898

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/2759233

File Format (MP4) MPEG-4 Part 14 file format