Should we stop the Harrison clock?

The longcase clock at Nostell made by John Harrison has been keeping time steadily for 300 years. But now sometimes it stops. Should we replace worn parts or simply stop it to preserve its original state? Hear what Jonathan Betts (National Trust Advisor on Clocks and Watches) thinks and visit The Clock Stops exhibition at Nostell (25 March - 29 October 2017) to have your say.

[@matthewcondon1985]

Sounds like a plan. Make the replica now and save the real one...I like it.

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Yes, it must be stopped! Make some damned copies, man!

[@ianmedium]

I think the make the replica and have it working next to the original which would no longer work and thus be preserved for what it is, an important part of horological history which I think is more important than keeping it working. One think, if you make the replica please try to have a documentary made of the process, it would be fascinating!

[@fakiirification]

Im of two minds on this question. First: the historical value is high enough to be worth preserving it in its current state. but second: it is a machine built to run. stopping it robs it of its creators purpose. Like cutting off a painters hands to spite god. I would say, repair it as needed to keep it running. and make a display out of any original parts that have been replicated for function in the clock. I feel this would best honor the work of Harrison. To keep as much of his handiwork ticking for as long as possible.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I think it should run, with a program for periodic maintenance, up to some point at which it is decided that another plan is needed. I don't see why that clock couldn't run a 1000 years if well maintained/repaired periodically. He would be proud to know it's still running. What a marvel.

[@MostCommentsAreFake-ud8by]

Run it for 30 minutes per day, and lengthen its lifespan by 48 times.

[@daisyspurr5036]

He was my great great….. grandad so cool to see !!!

[@ThatGuy-zw4le]

damn, that's so cool. Do your family have some kind of access to his work?

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

I would make a replica to keep running, and stop the original to preserve it for the future, and only run the replica for demonstration of the original idea!

[@brianwarburton4482]

Preserve the clock as it is. It is no longer needed as a clock so why carry on using it until it is worn out. I'm all for making a replica

[@davefoc]

Perhaps a hybrid approach. Make the replica but run the real clock once a week for a short time so that its life is lengthened greatly and people that would like to see it actually running can arrange to be there when it is running. I was somewhat familiar with Harrison's story but I had no idea that he made a wooden clock or that it was still running. I hope to go to England next year. I think I'd like to see it. ETA: That's nice to know. The clock is in a museum in Greenwich and Greenwich is one of the places I want to go.

[@Ipaytaxes]

There is nothing like the sound of a clock, they all have an individual sound and dare I say it, sprit.... but Harrison's clocks are irreplaceable, they define an age, they represent ingenuity of one man.... it must be preserved as is and stopped, once you start replacing things, in the end what's left? It's like the old joke, my broom has been the best broom in the world, it's only needed 2 new handles and 2 new heads over the last 20 years.... personally, I would just run it on special occasions, lets say the week of john Harrison's birthday/ death in memory of him and the week of new years day.... that is to say that it would run 4 days before new years day and the first 4 days after. As for a replica, fine, it will take the pressure off the original....

[@Digital111]

Stop the original, run a replica. The original one should be preserved, would be sad to see the old one wear out, unecessarily. think of it as a happy retirement.

[@mjney]

Like H4 this clock will be best preserved by keeping it idle. It may be painful but would we wallpaper the Sistine Chapel?

[@Tempusverum]

We should keep it in good condition and wind it once a year in Harrison’s birthday

[@JerryWalker001]

One day it will no longer function even if it is stopped. Surely it is better to see it running while it still can rather than have it idle until it is useless.

[@toml.8210]

I would like to see it running, unless it there will be some point when the clock may damage itself if it does.

[@clwydianuk]

Although a working replica was my first thought. Why have an immaculate clock that will never run again? Why not run it til it breaks and then preserve it in aspic.... a clock that COULD run is just as useful as a broken one...

It is a paradox, to replace the parts, because the disassembled parts are no longer the watch and if you replace the worn parts it ceases to be the original and becomes another watch; I think it is better to make a working replica and leave the original still, Harrison would be happier because in life he was not recognised for his work while it was working. (I don't know English) . Es una paradoja, reemplazar las piezas, porque las piezas desarmadas ya no son el reloj y si se reemplazan las piezas desgastadas deja de ser el original y se convierte en otro reloj; yo pienso que es mejor hacer una replica que funcione y dejar quietico el original, Harrison quedaría más contento porque en vida no le reconocieron su trabajo mientras funcionaba.

[@baracuxi1]

Pena que nada esta traduzido para o portugues

[@georgieippolito9924]

restore it! keep the original parts framed next to the clock.

[@snorkhornee7688]

why not have the wooden parts 3d scanned and printed, and replaced with synthetics? display the original wooden clockwork parts alongside the completed assembly with replaceable wearable synthetic gears?

[@android01978]

snork hornee even better... someone should produce a plastic replica kit kind of like the gakken bow shooting boy. Great way to introduce kids (and adults) to the concepts used.

[@andrewallen9993]

A modern synthetic clock would not run as long as the wooden one. The wooden one is self lubricating, that's why it's still running three centuries later.

[@chironex4844]

I’m actually a Harrison and I have proof that my great great great (more) grandad is John Harrison

[@pauc9596]

And? What a meaningless comment. Don't you have anythimg useful to add to the article? I think that John Harrison would have been proud and amazed that his clock continued working for 300 years but also that he would push on with the next development. By all means preserving what we can of the original, without replacing any parts, so we can understand his methods and mechanical skills but if we need to have a working model then a reproduction is definitely the way to go.

[@StephenMortimer]

@@pauc9596 relax SNOWFLAKE... it's all in fun

[@peterroberts3748]

Velly interesting Muzle - then why are you not 'proudly' signing in as a 'Harrison', instead of a breakfast cereal?

[@StephenMortimer]

@@peterroberts3748 Fame is too heavy a burden

[@peterroberts3748]

More probably it has only survived 300 years BECAUSE it has been kept running - opinions are personal and like mine probably unqualified. expert opinion is just that too - opinion. I have three C18th long case clocks with metal workings, had JH made his from metal it's my view this one would have 'worn' out long ago. 'Time LOSS', to 'unqualified me' suggest's wear but that doesn't appear to be a factor, the intermittent 'stopping' could be researched and a decision then taken whether to replace or repair the specific parts that, 'other beers have failed to reach' !! Yes, just my opinion!