Bigswey Posted May 2, 2010 Share Posted May 2, 2010 Any ideas on where I can find plans or an exploded drawing for a clock (spit). Jack. Any help appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 I googled some photos of the clock jack, but I couldn't find any construction diagrams. I think a good contact would be Peter Ross, who is now semi-retired near Siler City, NC. He was head smith at Colonial Williammsburg for years and is a "walking antiquarian." 2232 White Smith Road, Siler City, NC 27344. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 You lucky devil! Making a clock jack is one of the projects in Moxon's "Mechanick Exercises" pub 1703 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigswey Posted May 5, 2010 Author Share Posted May 5, 2010 Thanks for the leads. I downloaded Moxon now I just need to study it.thanks again. Big Swey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 I saw a very nifty clock jack in Muiderslot castle in the Netherlands: the reel that the weight cord was wound on had springy iron wires fastened at one end and floating above the surface at the other end. This had been arranged so that when you wound up the cord the wires were held down against the reel; but when the cord was almost totally unwound the wires were released to spring away from the reel and strike a small bell as the reel continued to unwind telling you that it was time to wind it up again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 I love clock jacks though I don't recall what the spit drive versions were called. Just be sure to post plenty of pics as you go, we LOVE picss. Say Frank, speaking of Peter Ross, he was on the Woodwright's Shop last Saturday doing some cold smith work. Punching, chisel cutting, peining, filing and lots of very informative talking. I must've been asleep all the other times he's been on the Woodwright's shop because I only just noticed he's a southpaw. Frosty the Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigswey Posted May 8, 2010 Author Share Posted May 8, 2010 check out what I found.. Between this and Moxon, and some advice from a clock person who knows something about verge and foliot mechanisms I think with some work persistence and luck it can be done.. Big Swey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 I am in. Colonial Williamsburg this week and there are several examples both histor and reproduction. All examples are flywheel limited, with n o further timing mechan ism. I am. Using my wife's phone, so pictures have to wait til,l next week. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Well, I guess we'll just wait then. Pics are worth it you know. Frosty the Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigswey Posted May 29, 2010 Author Share Posted May 29, 2010 Kim Thomas has some great photos of one he restored on his website . i' m starting next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 I'm going to break this up for simplicity in organization. This first post is two historic examples in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum at Colonial Williamsburg. I got to this section by entering through the hospital. the brass clockjack is near the serving line to the cafe, and the iron is across the area near the entry to the same area. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 This is a reproduction installed in the Governor's Mansion Kitchen.The rigging is plainly visible going up to `a sheave and down to a single weight. The drive is a line that is spliced to form a continuous loop. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 This is in the kitchen of the Payton Randolph house. The gentleman in the kitchen was helpful and explained the operation of the mechanism some. The wooden spool has a ratchet/pawl mechanism joining it to the gears, and the handle is removable so the weight will not affect operation. While all the clock jacks are a single fall at Colonial Williamsburg, he stated that it was period correct based on some recent information to have additional pulleys making for an effectively longer fall. The whole apparatus is fastened with some wedges to the pins on the mantle allowing for removal for cleaning.I did not examine the lines used but I think they were 3/8 inch that are somewhat stretched out. The ropes were either a cotton or a linen as synthetics would melt that close to the fire. The mechanism also seemed to need help starting as it was demonstrated giving the flywheel a spin to start. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GNJC Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Hi, I recently restored a spit engine (am still to finish the flywheel - new baby, no sleep!). If you need any close-up photo's of various parts, ratchet etc., let me know and I'll post some as and when I can. I have studied these things a lot, and there seems to be two common forms of ratchet; the first is a mechanism contained inside the main rope-winding barrel, the second is outside the barrel, but within the main cog-wheel attached to the barrel. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 I'm a computer fossil and a rookie, so I can only tell you about two full page color photos of two spit jacks in "Antique Tools and Instruments from the Nessi Collection" plates 93 and 94. ISBN 88-7439-124-2. Plate 93 shows one from Northern Italy, circa 1600. The other is from France, circa 1810. http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solvarr Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Some photos i was able to take courtesy of Peter Ross. http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/solvarr/sets/72157620082426510/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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