Don Johnston

I discovered Don's work when he joined my technical mailing list. And decided that his work was just too wonderful not to share. For more - go to his website - http://grandfatherclocktowers.com

This clock is a replica of the STRUTT EPICYCLIC TRAIN CLOCK <br />
<br />
This is one of the most interesting of all single train skeleton clocks ever conceived. First made by an Englishman, William Strutt, it has a number of interesting and extremely unusual features not found in other clocks. Its 8-day run, spring driven train is epicyclic (planetary gearing) and involves a ring wheel of 4-1/2" ID and 5-1/2 OD teeth. The motion work is based on the Ferguson Mechanical Paradox instead of the normal 12 to 1 gear train. To allow individual setting of the hands, the collets are of most unusual design. Both beautiful and unusual in the extreme, this clock is an excellent time keeper.<br />
<br />
The center arbor carries the minute hand and is driven by a fusee/great-wheel assembly. Fixed to the center arbor is a a planet arm having a counterweight on one end and a planet wheel and pinion on the other end. A sun wheel is fixed to the dial and cannot rotate. The planet pinion engages this wheel and is forced to rotate while being moved around it by the planet arm. The planet wheel drives the internal teeth of the ring wheel, which is free to rotate on the center arbor. The external teeth of the ring wheel drive the escape wheel pinion. A conventional recoil escapement drives the pendulum.<br />
<br />
William Strutt designed his epicyclical geared clock in the late 1820's and his friend William Wigston built it. Because of the difficulties involved in making epicyclical gears very few were made by Strutt and Wigston. The visual fascination of epicyclical gearing (also more commonly referred to as 'sun and planet gearing') has subsequently inspired many copies of the clock. This style was made in a limited edition of 100 between November of 1973 and February 1974 and were sold mainly to the United States for $3500. Epicyclical gearing has been used in orrerys and is extensively used in transmissions for all sorts of machinery, including automobiles.<br />
<br />
I give credit to W.R.Smith for documenting this clock and publishing a book, ( How To Make A Strutt Epicyclic Train Clock)

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This clock is a replica of the STRUTT EPICYCLIC TRAIN CLOCK

This is one of the most interesting of all single train skeleton clocks ever conceived. First made by an Englishman, William Strutt, it has a number of interesting and extremely unusual features not found in other clocks. Its 8-day run, spring driven train is epicyclic (planetary gearing) and involves a ring wheel of 4-1/2" ID and 5-1/2 OD teeth. The motion work is based on the Ferguson Mechanical Paradox instead of the normal 12 to 1 gear train. To allow individual setting of the hands, the collets are of most unusual design. Both beautiful and unusual in the extreme, this clock is an excellent time keeper.

The center arbor carries the minute hand and is driven by a fusee/great-wheel assembly. Fixed to the center arbor is a a planet arm having a counterweight on one end and a planet wheel and pinion on the other end. A sun wheel is fixed to the dial and cannot rotate. The planet pinion engages this wheel and is forced to rotate while being moved around it by the planet arm. The planet wheel drives the internal teeth of the ring wheel, which is free to rotate on the center arbor. The external teeth of the ring wheel drive the escape wheel pinion. A conventional recoil escapement drives the pendulum.

William Strutt designed his epicyclical geared clock in the late 1820's and his friend William Wigston built it. Because of the difficulties involved in making epicyclical gears very few were made by Strutt and Wigston. The visual fascination of epicyclical gearing (also more commonly referred to as 'sun and planet gearing') has subsequently inspired many copies of the clock. This style was made in a limited edition of 100 between November of 1973 and February 1974 and were sold mainly to the United States for $3500. Epicyclical gearing has been used in orrerys and is extensively used in transmissions for all sorts of machinery, including automobiles.

I give credit to W.R.Smith for documenting this clock and publishing a book, ( How To Make A Strutt Epicyclic Train Clock)

Strutt epicyclical Clock02