AHS Turret Clock Group

http://commons.wikimedia.org - Tony Hisgett Clock Tower Smethwick Council House

On Saturday 21st of March 2015, the AHS turret clock group met at Smethwick Council House near Birmingham to look at their Smith of Derby turret clock which has the rare honour of being in such good condition, original to the building and still wound by hand. The locals were pleased to have some interest in their clock: http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/news/article/3250/clock_fans_turn_back_time 

Here are some pictures of the day.

We met in this stately meeting room with wonderful wooden seating built with fold out deaks, inkwells and ash trays for the councillors of old.

Up in the tower there was only room for a few at a time and the ladder up was pretty steep

The 4 foot, three train flatbed stikes the hours and quarters with a ting tang. The mechanism is in great condition.

Here you can see the date - 1906 which is around the time the building was erected

 

The double three legged gravity escapement

The bolt and shutter maintaining power

The weights were wound right up above the clock by this pulley mechanism behind the dial

The mechanism had recently been wound so the weights were visible, again, behind the dial on the next floor above the movement

The lead off mechanism to the motionwork

The motion work, and, throught the dial you can see the signature hand shape of Smith of Derby

A view of Smethwick through a crack in the dial

Can you spot the Picasso style line drawing?

After our time in Smethwick, we made our way to the school of Jewellery in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham for tea and cake supplied by Geoff Sykes and his wife. Chris Mckay's bodyless voice then briefed those planning on going on the future trip to Italy and described some of the delights that were to be expected on that adventure. He was also booked to talk elsewhere that day and so it was an interesting experience to have a pre recorded presentation. I particularly enjoyed hearing a clock ticking in the background of the recording.

The final talk was scheduled to be from Keith Scobie-Youngs who, due to bad health could also not be there. Thankfully we had a willing volunteer - Mike Bundock step in at the last minute which meant that we could hear of the renovation works made on the Herne Bay clock tower - the first free standing clock tower in the UK. After a lottery grant, the tower has been treated to some love and care and now looks absolutely fantastic.

I look forward to the next similar event that I can attend and hope that others will join me.