City Clocks - Watch and Clock Repairs in London & Shrewsbury

Vienna style wall clock

Recently a customer living near Stratford-on-Avon was looking for a Vienna style wall clock. One of the range by Comitti of London appealed but he was unable to find the model he wanted in the shops he contacted. Web enquiries did not produce a response until he found our site. An enquiry on a Saturday brought a reply by telephone to confirm the price and a follow up call on Monday confirmed that the model he wanted was in stock. On Thursday evening the clock was delivered, fixed to the wall and all the packaging cleared away. Not only was the service a pleasant surprise but the price charged was less than if he had driven to Birmingham, carried the heavy clock home, followed the instructions to set it up himself and then cleared away the packaging. It really does pay to buy from City Clocks.

Relocation of a World Time Clock

Built in 1969 this clock was specifically designed by Martin Burgess for J.Henry Schroder Wagg & Co. Dismantled and reinstalled in 1988 when the reception was redesigned with marble cladding. Later much of the mechanism was lost during a repair. In 1995 Jeffrey Rosson FBHI of City Clocks remade the clock mechanism from the original drawings.

Combining horology and art this clock was given a beautiful and interesting shape that fascinated staff and visitors. As a specialist clock, attention has led to several articles in specialist magazines including one lengthy article covering the very precise properties of the pendulum. A 10ft diameter great wheel turning once every 24 hours has indicators showing the time in every part of the world where the company was represented. Greenwich mean time is indicated on a small 2ft diameter dial just above eye level. This dial may also be set to read British summer Time. Designed to cover a complete wall the concept is sufficiently simple to be taken in at a glance by people passing by. Construction of the clock, which was made by hand, originally took two years. At 16ft high the clock will neatly fit into the proposed area.

Suspended from the hub of the great wheel is the 40lbs driving weight, which falls 3’ 6” in a month. The great wheel itself weighs about 70 lbs and is made of aircraft quality duralumin, hand stoned to catch the light. This hand stoning creates reflective facets that should give a clear contrast with the stainless steel wall panels. 24 spokes numbered at the outer rim represent the passing hours.

A pendulum of 170 lbs weight is attached to the lower shaft and compensated for temperature changes. This pendulum swings once every 1 ¼ seconds.

Through the dial can be seen the date change work which is unique to this clock. A mechanical device computes adjustments for short months and leap years. Behind the mechanical computer can be seen the escapement. A small spring, known as a remontoir, is wound by the passing of the great wheel. Every minute the escapement can be heard releasing energy to power the pendulum and advance the hands. Light and almost frictionless this is a very precise escapement.

During the original installation and later reinstallation much time was spent correcting for errors in the location of the two hubs that were set into the wall. We proposed to design and construct an adjustable stainless steel frame that looks as if it is original to the clock but permits faster, more accurate installation. This arrangement also makes it much easier to remove and replace the clock during any later refurbishment of the building. Now settled into the Citygroup Tower in canary Wharf this great clock continues to fascinate its many admirers.

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