23.12.2020 Gent's Bell-ringer Contacts.

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I was asked, in the comments section, to share some images of the Gent's Bell-ringer contacts.  Bell-ringers were commonly used in schools to provide accurate and universal timing of classes.

The contacts vary in number, but my own, single circuit contacts are shown here. Multiple contacts were supplied, to order, by Gents. To allow individual bell ringing circuits. Perhaps for use in different areas of a building or complex.

 

 

Note that there are two distinct sets of contacts:

The lower set are situated left of the centre of the movement. They are actuated by a cam and offer weekend silencing. Or any other silencing period with a suitable cam. Slots in the day of the week wheel allows some adjustment by loosening the visible screws.

These contacts are normally CLOSED. If they are open then the bell system is silenced.

 

 

The second set of contacts are activated by tapered pins inserted into the 24 hour wheel. These contacts are found at upper left of the bell-ringer movement. Fitting pins in specific holes will allow a day and night choice of electric bells being rung as frequently as small fractions of any hour. These contacts are normally OPEN.   When a pin comes around it lifts the shaped, brass, contact actuator. The circuit is then closed until the pin moves on and releases the contacts again.   A tilting mercury switch limits the duration of the bell circuit to a few seconds to avoid tedium. A toggle switch is provided to silence the bells. While a push button is provided for alarms, drills, etc. Naturally the contact system can be used for other timing purposes.                                                                                      

WARNING! Be VERY careful in your choice of pins if you need more or lack any at all. I bought some large, standard, tapered clock pins and found them too long. Not having noticed this problem immediately, they completely locked up the bell-ringer movement. A pin had jammed against the frame. I had to clip off the shiny new pins to a safe length and then round the ends neatly over again. 

 

 

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My apologies for the poor layout of this post. After years of practice, Google Blogger has finally and completely ruined the familiar editing and composition features of blogger. They caused this with an "update" aimed primarily at mobile phone users. I took the provided option to reject the change and continue with the original blog format. Only to find that I was now being punished for my recalcitrance. 

 

It is no longer possible to drag and drop images or text or even to expect auto justification of text around images. Hence the large gaps where text should normally exist! I have had to use "jump break" to keep the text in a relevant position beside the images. 

 

They ruined the HTML editing facility too. So it is no longer possible to undo the damage they cause in standard composition. WYSIWYG. Remember that these incompetents are largely in charge of the world these days. Though you are not provided with a vote to get rid of them.

 

 

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6.12.2020 Another WT on Ebay UK.

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Too unwell to spend hours processing images and writing detailed text for the blog.

Gents Pulsynetic Waiting Train Turret Clock .in Somerset | eBay

Probably WW2-1940s "marine" paint colour with the [earlier] matching "shoulders" to the cast main frame. What I like to think of as the "organic" frame style before they become more industrialised.

All plated parts, bandaged coils and pressed contact steadies suggest a slightly later model. Though not as late as the all grey, sloping shoulder type which followed.

It looks quite "tidy" but needs a careful clean and attention to fragile wiring details. It is missing its time setting crank on the front of the worm arbor/shaft. Fortunately, the time setting dial is presently hidden away at the rear. It would be better if more exposed. Somewhere on the end of the wormwheel shaft near the rather "unlikely" universal joint would do. Then it could be better seen for time setting. 

The ring type, universal joint, could be replaced with a more appropriate, forked, turret clock, expansion-universal joint. Thermal expansion of the lead-off work [to the often, distant dials] would put tremendous loads on the ends of long shaft unless they were suitable slotted. A practice applied for centuries to most turret clocks. The fork and pin drive will allow the vital freedom to expand and contract in unheated attics, lofts, roof spaces and clock rooms.

Making a new time setting crank, in keeping with the original, is a fairly trivial task. I made my own using a the crank from a vintage, domestic, pepper mill with a nicely worn wooden handle. A white, porcelain handle is more often seen and perhaps more original. A reproduction, porcelain, corded, light pull might suit this task.

No bevel gears and missing its Pendulum bob.  The latter is far more vital but reproducible from drawings, photographs and/or dimensions. Though it will not be original it can be faked if you have access to suiable materials and an original to copy. 

A variety of paint colours have been applied to WT bobs to bring attention to the swinging danger in confined spaces. White or even red paint has shown up in several online images. Others are painted the same colour as the frame left the factory. 

One has to take great care when adjusting a working WT movement to avoid trapped fingers. The inertia of the heavy pendulum and rapid movement of the armature can catch the unwary owner out.

 Watching a WT in action is hypnotising as the Hipp toggle and waiting train mechanism take turns for one's attention. I have mine on a sturdy shelf with hefty, cast shelf brackets. So I can watch it at eye level whenever I am passing by.

There is no need for a WT to be very noisy. Though they were never meant for such use they can be domesticated by careful adjustment and damping the armature's range stops with rubber. A solid bench or stand is desirable to avoid rocking and to avoid amplifying any noise. 

I never got around to building the "trestle" style stand, in oak, which was sometimes provided by the Gents factory. Many WTs stood on wooden benches. With a generous slot cut for the pendulum rod to allow the large bob to swing freely underneath. Too short a slot will soon find the limits of swing demanded by an active WT. Better too long a slot than too short.

This fine WT reached £1272 on eBay[UK] despite the lack of a pendulum. We hope the winner completes the movement to their own satisfaction and enjoys their ownership. 

 

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Waiting train pendulum impulse in Slow Motion.

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The pendulum impulsing of the Waiting Train happens too fast to be sure what is happening. 

So I recorded a video at 150fps to display the impulsing action clearly as it is replayed in slow motion

The Hipp toggle closes the main contacts as the pendulum arc drops below the trigger point. The huge electromagnets are energised. Lifting the rocking armature with its impulsing roller. The upward pressure is maintained as the roller runs along dead face and then around the corner of the pallet. The Hipp toggle can be clearly seen in its action in the V-block before and during the impulse.

I have a piece of tough material trapped between the electromagnet cores and the armature to reduce the noise. There was once a rubber tap washer beneath the domed adjustment screw head but it has been lost or worn away. I fitted these to stop the loud clonk as the heavy armature lifted and dropped back against the cast main frame before and after the impulse.

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A G&J motor driven striking unit on eBay.

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Not much of interest on eBay lately. So it was pleasant to have something really interesting to share: A motor driven Gillett & Johnston striking unit.

 Antique Turret Clock Electric Striking Unit by Gillett & Johnston | eBay

Seller's eBay text:

"Gillett & Johnston electric striking unit with solenoid activated mercury tube switching. 1926 can be seen on the motor plate however I’m not sure if this is a date or not. If it is, then it’s very early however, I think it could be later than this.
 
I have connected the motor. Which runs but smokes badly. This could be from long term storage, deteriorating wiring or just old age. For clarity it being sold as not working. Please assume the motor will need repairing or replacing. The gearbox casing is completely non-ferrous – I assume gun metal so could polish up well.
 
It’s heavy – just over 40 kg so collection only unless you want to arrange a pallet. Overall measurements are 700 x 250 x 350 high.
 
Could be an interesting project for someone. Cash on collection please- not accepting PayPal for this."

 As can be seen and according to the seller's description some work will be involved in its restoration. Some considerable knowledge of electrical work will obviously be required for safety if it is intended to get it going again. Rather than as a static display.

 Motor rewinds are possible if the original motor casing is to be used. One hopes it can still meet modern levels of safety and reliability. It would be a shame to lose originality by fitting a modern motor. Old motors have their own unique style and personality.

These units were probably never intended to be seen by the general public. Though that did not stop these world famous, bell and clock manufacturers from producing a most attractive unit. One presumes that the drum-like casing, on top, houses a large, worm gear, speed reduction gearbox. Designed to turn the striking components at an acceptable striking speed with enough torque to lift a heavy bell hammer.

The spaced pins on the large, ratchet wheel ensure the correct number of blows are struck on each hour in turn. Far more useful and interesting, than a single strike on the hour. IMO. An advance lever is operated by a round cam on the outer end of the wormwheel shaft.

The mercury switch, to start the motor run, will be triggered by a master clock and its associated "bell ringer" unit. The latter were often to be found in schools to ring electric bells for timing classes. These "bell ringers" can still be found quite regularly on eBay and make most attractive, collector's items in a master clock system or collection.

I have resized the original auction images for the blog format. Left Click for enlargements.

Copied and shared for educational purposes. To extend the life of the seller's excellent images [and relevant information] beyond the close of the eBay auction. Good luck with your bidding!

This item sold for £146.67 GBP after 16 bids.

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