The Village Clockmaker. Clock repair tutorial #21. Topping a crown wheel.

I have been repairing clocks for fifty years and would like to share some of the things I have learned over the years. With that in mind this will be a weekly video of the repair of what ever comes through the door of the shop. Over fifty years I have repaired a broad range of clocks from simple American mantle clocks to rare European automata clocks to early English table clocks so stay tuned and please subscribe, like and if you comment or have a questions, I will do my best to answer them. My web site address is www.jamesleaclocks.com.

[@julien23lastchristmas2]

Its a Great pleasur to working with you Mr James 👍

[@davidlong3824]

You can learn so much by watching these videos lovely old clock.

[@scottc6537]

I've been enjoying your videos over the past few weeks. I know they must be very time consuming to make. Thanks for doing it.

[@hormazdirani1431]

Thank you James ! It is always a pleasure for me to see and learn from your tutorials.

[@johntodd1238]

brilliantly done simple but totally effective

[@shemp308]

good video! as a amateur that loves to see clock from old and that works on and refinishing anniversary clocks as a specialty I have never seen a crown wheel clock actually! read pictures but not like this. Now it makes sense of how it actually works! thanks.

[@jimattrill8933]

I have a Morbier clock with the verge movement from about 1820 and it keeps amazingly accurate time according to my watches some of which are quartz. This is amazing and I keep congratulating my watch/clockmaker on his work. I must say that it doesn't look as if it would be accurate but it is! It was originally from farmhouses in France.

[@brianwarburton4482]

Thanks for the video. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[@juanrivero8]

The original crown wheels were used with verge and foliot escapements. The earliest ones were middle ages; I think the Ely cathedral clock goes back to the 1400s. Then Galileo had the brilliant idea of replacing the foliot with a pendulum. As I remmeber he retained the verge. Obviously this is a pendulum clock so post-Galileo. The workmanship is obviously post-Galileo. More than that I cannot tell, my knowledge of antique clocks is limited! Very nice way of topping, I must remember that. Thank you for posting, I can't wait for the next one.

[@phooesnax]

Very interesting! Thanks for posting this.

[@PRNadh]

nice work done.

[@janeduffy6809]

Love this game 🎉

[@Drickett1]

Thank you for sharing.

[@clockguy2]

My understanding is that they made Morbier clocks as late as WWI. While the crown wheel is old technology, I've read that a few makers were still making them into the mid 19th century simply because that's how their father had made them. I have a morbier movement with rounded top anchor from around 1812. Roof top anchors were the norm after about 1860. Morbiers are my favorite clocks.

[@jordanrenaud3005]

Good work James. Cannot imagine using a cutting tool here! Maybe a fine file if it could be held at proper angle. I respect those Morbier clocks...always exc ellent cut pinions and solid construction throughout. R.J. Renaud

[@orlandogomes5399]

nice to see something old its working is simple. I would like to bye one old clock working or not working.

[@thohry]

Thanks

[@pauljones3866]

James, Thank you taking us through the process you use to true-up the crown wheel. What type of cutting stone and grit do you use? Do you use a brass shim to protect the stone from the clamping screws in the lathe tool holder? Thank you for the video. Regards, Paul

[@tonyvillanova8757]

Ohhh very grateful for this video my name is Tony Villa Nova, brazilan, I am geography professor and watchmaker. I come from a family of watchmaking tradition that came from my grandfather and my father and now I have inherited this beautiful profession. I was looking for a video that showed me this wheel of escape because I wanted to know how many teeth the wheel had because the one that came in the clock is missing a piece and in its video shows it perfect and I can accurately refine it very much and that God bless you. Note I want to know the name of the manufacturer of this watch please.

[@michaeljohnston160]

Super video, my main interest centres around what in the UK we call Comtoise clocks. I have done this exercise but never with the lathe running. Always rotate by hand. What stone did you use? Mike - West Chiltington UK

[@phooesnax]

Been watching for the next episode. Hope everything is OK?

[@rogers531]

Love your work James.. the right way the first time. How is your spinal stenosis, I have had 2 ops for this.. very painful... love these crown wheel primitive pieces

[@BleuJurassic]

great fix how would you make one?

[@tabmaryland2333]

Not being a clock maker, I really appreciated the description of where the part you were working on fit into the clock! You mentioned that the crown was cast. Is it bronze, or some other copper alloy? Approximately what RPM were you using? Thank you!

[@sooth15]

Cast brass.

[@eduvail]

Nice video James. I have a question about the striking I am working in one that is not as old as that on in your video mine strikes the hour correctly but about two at three minutes after it strikes the hour again is this correct? If not how can I adjust it? And could you show a video of it striking. Thanks from a huge fan. E J Duvail from Texas 👍

[@rustydog1236]

I'm sure you know by now. But they are designed to repeat the strike 2 minutes later! Nothing wrong with your clock!

[@carlosluizclasslima9237]

James, tem como eu lhe enviar um mecanismo para reparo.moro no Brasil.

[@wich1]

Hi James, have you stopped making videos?

[@julien23lastchristmas2]

Its a Great pleasur to working with you Mr James 👍

[@ПашаПитецкий]

Привітання,а чи є у вас ученики послідовники,бо таких майстрів ,як ви все менше

[@audiokees4045]

I have now buy the clock and running now, have done what you did on the lathe. Here is the movie. I want to ask also how your pendulum is connected on top of the clock, mine has a pin trough it who is bent on top of clock. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6q4aaWGlM55hLs

[@gilleslairaudat8830]

Elle est vieille la Comtoise que tu as restauré, avec la suspension devant au fil de soie , j’ai entendu dire que ces modèles sont antérieurs à 1830 , j’ai un mouvement le balancier est à l'arrière la suspension est à fil de soie aussi le système de celle-ci est plus haut, la roue des comptes est pleine et gris acier, on m’a dit que c’est un mouvement qui date de Louis 15.

[@bruceandjosietrewin6214]

Le mien aussi date de Louis XV (selon le vendeur) mais comment est-ce-que en peut le confirmer? Je l'ai achete en Charente.

[@Yodeci]

sorry!!

[@sonnguyenhuu9863]

Copper materials from china can't be used !

[@aigcess22]

🤮

[@normshafer2243]

Thanks James. Very nice. I Wonder if someday you can do a video about how a lantern pinion is made. Obviously you could with a rotary table but how did they do it with a watch makers lathe? Thanks again.

[@jordanrenaud3005]

Good work James. Cannot imagine using a cutting tool here! Maybe a fine file if it could be held at proper angle. I respect those Morbier clocks...always exc ellent cut pinions and solid construction throughout.

[@berryj.greene7090]

Very nice honest video. Thank you.

[@tonyvillanova8757]

Hello James how can you make a crown wheel of these for me ??? The clock that is with me is missing this wheel

[@jamesa.leathevillageclockm8113]

Yes. In fact I am making one right now. Do you have the arbor?

[@1jtolvey]

GREAT VIDEO !