Astronomical skeleton clock progress as of 09-14-09

What you see is about 25% of the completed clock movement in terms of parts count, about 2000 of a total of 8000 parts. This project has been in construction for about 1.5 years and has another 2 to go. Much of the most difficult subassemblies are done as the going train contained a large amount of novel mechanical concepts: dual remontoire mediated by differential, dual escape wheels, compound fly fans, compound going barrels. The going train contains nearly 60 wheels. All pivots in the going train are jewelled in chatons. The rest of the pivots will have jewelled pivots for a total of 450 jewelled pivots (exception being the going barrels because of the large weight, these will be in caged roller bearings) . All ferrous parts are stainless steel and all brass will eventually be plated in two tones of gold.

This project was conceived in 2003 and will be completed in 2011 or 2012. We are not trying to make the most complicated clock, there are many in the last 200 years that beat this project by a wide margin, but we hope to make a mark in the area of fascination in terms of movement. Also the quality of fabrication will be next to none. You can follow the project on my web site: www.my-time-machines.net. or email me at: mfrank1@rcn.com