Introduction
This Watchmaker’s Regulator was originally commissioned by Tim Jackson, owner of the Independent In Time watch store, Solana Beach, CA.
It was created to become the store ‘standard time keeper’ for setting his and his clients’ watches to time. The clock (Figure 1 above) is a modern, fully detailed interpretation of the traditional Watchmaker’s Regulator.
The goal wss to have a contemporary designed, high-precision time keeper, made with all traditional craftsmanship methods while using the finest grades of modern thermally stable materials.
With this goal as the build mantra, the regulator is weight driven, month going, and has 25 jewels.
Above Figure 2:
The steel pallets nibs are cut, and red sapphire jewels have been inserted into the slots; all possible train pivots are jeweled and have numbered jeweled end pieces.
Even the pulley pivots are jeweled to allow even transmission of energy to the clock train (Figure 2).
The escapement (Figure 3 above) is a deadbeat, the asymmetric crutch assembly is screwed to the pallet arbor, and the beat adjusting screw has a ball-shaped, hardened steel tip acting against the pendulum rod (Figure 4).
The Pendulum design
The most important item in a precision clock is the pendulum (Figure 5 above right).
I have made the pendulum using the most temperature stable materials available; the pendulum rod is fused silica. All the pendulum fittings comprising the threaded regulating screw, regulating nut, beat pointer, weight tray (Figure 6 below) and screw, suspension hook, and the upper suspension clamp are made from Invar 36.
The tube extending into the center of the bob is fused silica with a brass compensating spacer fitted between the Invar regulating nut and the fused silica extension tube.
The Dial
The engraved brass dial (Figures 7 and 8) is 240mm (9.5 in) in diameter; the center of the seconds dial has been skeletonized, allowing the motion of the escapement and pallets to be clearly visible.
The numerals and signature are dark blue rather than the common black.
The final finish to the dial is a little known form of silvering known as French Silvering, which has a spectacular mottled look and is very white, providing a strong contrast to the blue steel hands, thus making reading the time an easy task. The flame blued steel hands are in the Walter style, both the seconds and minute hands are carefully counter balanced (Figure 9).
The Walter pendulum bob is solid brass 228.6 mm (9 in) in diameter; the profile has been carefully designed and machined to optimize the bob passing through air inside the case with the least disturbance to the pendulum. The pendulum bob, weight shell,pulley, line hook, winding crank, and the beat platestand are rhodium plated. The French Silvered beatplate is curved to the radius of the pointer and set atan angle of 17 degrees for easy reading; the engraving is dark blue filled.
The illustrated case (Figure 10) is ebonized ash. The case is available in a variety of woods and finishes. The Watchmaker’s Regulator is entirely and proudly made in the United States with the exception of 23 of the 25 jewels.
About the Author
Watch, clock, and chronometer maker David Walter lives in the Santa Ynez Valley, CA, and is one of the few independent horologists in North America, creating original and bespoke watches and clocks using traditional skills and craftsmanship.
Dimensions: HEIGHT: 1525 mm (60.125 in)WIDTH: 240 mm (13.377 in)DEPTH: 187 mm (7.377 in)
Figure 1 and 7. The engraved dial. PHOTO BY BILL TAYLOR ASC. Figure 8, below. Escapement aperture and the dialsignature. PHOTO BY BILL TAYLOR ASC. www.nawcc.org NAWCC Watch & Clock Bulletin • May | June 2018• 201 (Edited by Nick Garrett of NGS 2025 – true colour intonation).
