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274539 Troy Livingston <horologist@w...> 2021‑09‑11 Re: Anyone know German tool makers of the past? #photo-notice
My wife got a chuckle out of John's comment but currently has no 
complaints about my scrounging. More in another email to follow.

I did stumble on another of Kirk's photos that showed some miscellaneous 
clock tools and offer the following identifications in the off chance 
that he hasn't already sorted it out.

Detail of photo here:
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/91137513@N.../51444609543/in/dateposted-public/>

1. The items in the wooden box are clock movement assembly posts with a 
bracket that will let you hang the assembled movement for testing. I 
have a set of these but didn't care for them. For movement assembly I 
find them awkward and they make nasty marks on the plates. For assembly 
it is hard to beat the cardboard tube from a roll of packing tape. 
Although I do have a nesting set of wood rings that I really like.

2. This is a tool for adjusting the beat on anniversary clocks (400 day 
clocks). Everyone knows that clocks need to be level, but actually the 
critical thing is for them to be in beat. Grossly simplified, to be in 
beat means the interval between the "tick and tock" must be equal. I 
think i might have one of these but can't say too much about these tools 
as I was made to swear never to work on anniversary clocks.

3. A Waltham watch mainspring gauge. Used to measure the thickness and 
width of watch mainsprings. I've never used mine. Have better ways to 
measure such things. But still it is a cool tool.

4. A traditional mainspring winder for watches or small clocks. Hard to 
date, could be anywhere from 19th century into the early 20th.

5. I'm not sure it is hard to judge by the photo. It is similar in 
construction to my Ollie Baker clock mainspring winder. The manual did 
have some photos of accessories that could be purchased but I haven't 
seen the paperwork for years and haven't the foggiest idea of where it 
could be. There were a couple of manufacturers who made tools with 
similar construction but a quick scan though old catalogs turned up 
nothing. It could be part of a movement holding system. But then may be 
something entirely unrelated to clock work.

Troy

Recent Bios FAQ