Making a wooden grasshopper clock according to John Harrison's principles
P. Hefetrueb P. Hefetrueb
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 Published On May 3, 2023

Making a wooden precision pendulum clock with grasshopper escapement according to John Harrison. The sculptural clock was self-built from multiplex, lignum vitae and beryllium bronze using mainly hand tools. Friction was reduced by self-lubricating bearings made from lignum vitae, by anti-friction wheels and by knife-edge bearings. The pendulum has adjustable temperature compensation pendulum, similar to Harrison's gridiron pendulum. The geometry of the gearing with a lantern pinion with rotating rollers and of the twin-pivot grasshopper escapement were optimized by calculating several variants. The electric remontoir, an automatic maintaining power windup mechanism, uses Christiaan Huygens' endless rope loop. The design of the clock, its assembly and setting it in motion is explained in detail. Available sources and literature and building materials I used are listed. A detailed documetaion of the design process and of the manufacturing of the clock can be found, although only in German, at https://www.uhrenwerkstattforum.de/t1...

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