The Prototype
After completing working models of the grasshopper escapement and deciding to adopt the constant force design, I set about designing the wheel train and remontoire. The wheels and pinions were left overs or rejects from other projects, with the emphasis on producing a compact wheel train.
The materials used were high and medium density fibreboard, wood brass and steel. Judicious amounts of Blu-Tack, sticky tape and superglue were used to get something working as quickly as possible, and then modified as necessary. Despite the rickety nature of the construction, ball races were used in the prototype to give a more accurate indication of the forces required to drive the mechanism. Designing a clock from scratch involves a fair amount of trial and error as one navigates uncharted territory.
