Gents' Fig.C271 restoration. [Pt.3]

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Here is the entire, synchronous motor, turret clock movement sympathetically restored to a high standard. The tiny Gents' synchronous clock movement alongside offered valuable clues to the original finish and makes an interesting comparison in sheer scale!

The large knurled hand wheel at front top controls the clock hand adjustment when the clutch is released.

Note the use of a brass, 'Pulsynetic' time setting dial. Very typical of many Gents' WT movements which the Fig.C271 superseded.

The small knurled wheel on the motor shaft is to start the motor. (Running anticlockwise) Self starting would have set the clock running without any reference to the actual time. Making a clock motor non-self starting ensured somebody soon noticed that the clock had stopped. A worker could then check the system and power supply. Then reset the hands to the correct time before restarting the motor manually. A clock which is running normally but showing the wrong time is worse than useless! 

The modern coil leads and moulded plastic connector block have been removed and the parts painstakingly returned to their original Gents' form of the time. A protective cover protects inquisitive fingers from potentially lethal voltages. Remember that this was an industrial product intended for isolated installations. Usually with very poor to impossible public access. Only authorized workers or trained electricians could reach the clock system.  

The view from above shows the gear train and shafts after cleaning and restoration. The central knurled wheel is the clutch release and lock. While the large knurled wheel at the front provided the necessary purchase to make fine clock hand adjustments. The lead-off work, universal joint is well seen from this angle.

And another view showing how a turret clock movement of this age and type should really be treated. No attempt has been made to pretend it has just left the factory. It had a long and useful life and this is clearly depicted in its present condition and presentation.

Any further deterioration has been suspended and the movement should now continue into further old age without loss of appearance or originality of finish.










The synchronous turret clock movement is ready to run for many more years. Though it is not very domesticated like many other electrical horology components. I am informed that it buzzes rather annoyingly. So running is reserved for visits by fellow clock enthusiasts.

A link to the website where a great many other Gents' Pulsynetic components can be found:

http://pulsynetic.eu











Here is the owner's video showing the Fig.C271turret clock movement being manually started and running:

Click on any image for an enlargement.

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Gent's Fig.C271 restoration. [Pt.2]

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It was found that the movement's paint best responded to a dry rag. Oil from previous lubrication tended to remove the silver paint on the motor plates and required special care. Oil does have the advantage of being a gentle cleaner on most surfaces. While not allowing further rust to form. It also provides a more acceptable finish. Particularly where there is considerable paint damage.
 
The exposed steel shafts were cleaned of rust. The motor's armature shaft bearings were replaced. The bronze gearbox bearing bushes were removed, cleaned and refitted. Interestingly, the bearings were not interchangeable. Suggesting that the entire movement was handmade. This was certainly true of the Waiting Trains. Each WT was made to order, or in small batches, from the basic castings.

Here is the final drive shaft with sturdy gear wheel, hand setting clutch (and its locking/unlocking wheel) and a universal-expansion joint.

By loosening the large wheel the clutch is freed and the clock hands can be turned to the correct time. The wheel is then tightened and the drive to the hands continues. A simple but foolproof system which may offer security against damage should the clock hands become locked by ice or some obstruction. The clutch plate can be seen separated and tightened against the gear wheel in this image.

The knurling on the edge of the clutch's friction wheel allows a good hand grip under all conditions. Yet is deliberately made too large, smooth and inaccessible for the application of ordinary tools.

It was not unknown for some workers to apply huge torques where only finger tight will do. They reasoned(?) that if tight is good then really tight must surely be better. Even if it requires a long bar or pipe on the spanner and the nut or bolt will never (ever) come undone again. The force applied may even destroy the thread. By the simple means of providing a hand wheel such cases of operator idiocy are largely avoided.

Here are the cast base plate and gearbox after considerable but careful work to clean and restore the mechanical details to fully functional.

The brass item near top centre, with two protruding pins, is a typical universal joint starting the lead-off work to the clock hands. The pins will drive a similar plate which has two matching slots. Thus allowing for variations in temperature and building movement without causing binding. Such simple details have been part of turret clock installations for centuries.

It was the standard to drive the rods to the dials at one revolution per hour. (Or minute hand speed) The hour hands were driven via a simple 12:1 reduction gearing from the minute hands just behind the clock dial.

Most turret clock hands were balanced to reduce backlash and stress on the whole system. Otherwise the hands would try to run downhill and struggle to climb back up again.

Temperatures can soar to scorching hot and plunge well below freezing in roof spaces and unheated towers. The great length of some connecting rods, between the clock movement and distant dial, would cause them to grow and shrink considerably with the constantly changing temperatures.

Timber in buildings is also subject to movement with changing temperature and humidity. These sliding universal joints allow for linear, thermal expansion, building settlement and small changes in drive direction. Large changes of direction would normally utilize pairs of bevel wheels.

Though contrate gear wheels were not unknown. These used a gear wheel with raised teeth around the edge like a king's crown. Sometimes driving a lantern rather than a solid pinion. This gearing practice was copied from windmills. It should be remembered that lantern pinions never drive. They are always driven by another gear.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

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A Gents' Fig.C271 synchronous motor turret clock. [Pt.1]

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A renowned Gents' Pulsynetic collector has kindly forwarded some fine images of his latest acquisition. His careful and sympathetic work in cleaning and restoring the movement can be seen in these and later images. Those hoping for a quick slap of paint with a 4" brush may be slightly disappointed!

The Fig.C271 movement was Gents' largest synchronous motor clock movement at 13" high [33cm] and weighing in at 45 lbs. [20.25kg] It had the capacity to drive four 20' dials. Well beyond the capability of any but the very largest, weight driven, turret clocks.

As can be seen here, the movement consists of a heavy cast baseplate, an electric motor and a gearbox.  These sub-assemblies are simply bolted together using brackets. The mass of the movement must resist torque loads in controlling the large and heavy hands of huge clock dials in all weathers.

These images show that the movement (as found) was not only dirty but suffering from rust to the exposed steel parts. Nor had it's paintwork been treated with the greatest respect over the years. The skill in restoring a vintage (or antique) mechanism is not just knowing when to stop. It is knowing where and when, or even if, to start work. Coarse abrasives and/or scraping will immediately ruin all hope of originality and completely destroy the item's history at a stroke.

A clock is not a commonplace tractor or stationary engine. To be given a thick, overall coat of bright paint to stop the rust and make it suitable for public display at a fair.

Some collectors will hope for a quick return to a factory-fresh finish. Sadly this aim will easily remove any remaining signs of history in the piece.

Achieving a high standard of finish may require work which is historically inaccurate. Modern methods or materials may not have been invented at the time it was originally made. Any research into the manufacturing technology and paint finishes of the time of manufacture will obviously hampered or made worthless.

Even confirming the date of manufacture is made far more difficult. All original paint samples will be likely to have been lost to a clumsy application (or bath) of chemical stripper. New electroplating might make the piece instantly "prettier" (and possibly more commercially attractive) but may be completely inappropriate. Polishing and abrasives will easily eradicate original machining and casting marks.

Finding an original item in very fine condition, however desirable, is extremely unlikely these days. These mechanisms were simply workhorses and those who cared for and maintained them ordinary, manual workers or caretakers. Certainly not clock collectors or connoisseurs of Britain's likely heritage in future industrial archaeology. The manual worker's skills and tools were no doubt rudimentary.  Pride in their work was reserved for the highly visible to their employer. Not something hidden away in a dark, inaccessible tower or filthy roof space.

Moreover, timekeeping was often a sore point when clocking-in only seconds late usually meant the loss of already meagre wages. The early morning laughter and banter at the clocking-in machine soon turned sour if there were delays or unexpectedly long queues! Time was a cruel slave master to those working very long hours for very low pay.


It should not be forgotten that these mechanism were commercial products and thus had to be competitive in price and longevity. Manufacturing quality is one thing but expensive finishes are quite another matter. Few eyes, beyond the responsible maintenance worker would ever see "the clock works".

This was also true of many of the other components of any electrical time system. The visible dials and their cases might require attractive fishes but those behind the scenes certainly did not. They were mass produced as cheaply as possible.

Decoration and high quality finishes were now of only historical interest. From a previous time when many items were virtually hand made from scratch. Mass production may have brought prices down to a more affordable level but it was often at the expense of simplicity and uniformity in appearance. 

Items which were once encased in beveled glass cages and furniture quality cases of exotic and priceless tropical timbers became simplified mechanical aids in steel boxes. All to reduce manufacturing costs.

Those manufacturers who did not adapt to the new reality faded away into obscurity. Whole industries vanished with time and changing technology and stiff competition from home and abroad. Railway and later motor transport destroyed many earlier, geographical, manufacturing and supply monopolies. Opening formerly successful manufacturers and even whole industries to fierce competition.

These same transport and service industries needed many more timekeeping items but demanded far lower prices than ever before. They too had to compete for travelling customers at affordable fares. Dozens of handmade turret clocks, each needing to be regularly hand wound, were never likely to decorate a modern railway station. No matter how large or prestigious the train or bus station might pretend to be. After WW1 there was never going to be enough staff to wind so many clocks. Let alone funds to afford them all. Electrical timekeeping came to the rescue but destroyed an entire industry manufacturing weight driven clocks. It also brought a remarkable new uniformity and unimaginable accuracy of timekeeping to many nations.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

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