Introduction To Tech Tid-Bits

The work done in my shop focuses on the repair and restoration of the clocks I admire most - Vienna Regulators - using techniques garnered from a number of sources: Some are refined from the lathe and clock restoration training I received from Roy Hovey and the watch restoration training I gained at the bench of a retired railroad watch inspector, Ray Ashcraft. In addition, I have adopted methods gained through hands on instruction from a variety of sources in the UK, Germany and Austria. I have been fortunate enough to find watch and clock repair folk who have allowed me to spend time with them, in their shops, giving me a chance to understand techniques and tools they use in their restoration work.

For the past several years I have been documenting subjects as diverse as the details of unusual mechanisms, interesting clock repair techniques, wood-working, or wood-finishing methods, unusual tools, or a novel use for a tool, for the past couple of years. This has resulted in a series of what I call “Technical Tid Bits”.

While my focus is mostly on Viennese and precision regulators, the content of the Tid Bits are applicable to a wide range of clocks.

This prologue is meant to serve as an introduction to what I hope will become a fixture in the Bulletin for the next couple of years. I plan to provide a series of fairly short technical articles covering a broad range of topics. And to introduce you to some of the truly wonderful mechanisms I have had a chance to work on - Viennese year runners, 6 month runners, month runners, even week runners with unusual features.

And, hopefully, from your feedback and comments, I will learn a bit more myself! Because that is one thing I have learned from the many students who have shared my shop: “Qui Vocet Discet” – or “Those who teach learn”.