Graduate Interview: Rosie Kirk

BCU: Hi Rosie! What have you been doing since graduating from BA Horology?

R: After a short summer break, I started working as a clock restorer in a shop in South West London called the Clock Clinic. I get to spend my day fiddling with all varieties of clocks from German Westminster chiming clocks, to English verge bracket clocks and French four glass. Also in this job I interact with the customers which is very enjoyable and also gives me the opportunity to learn the contextual side of the clocks coming into the shop because I see what the case is made of, who made the clock and when, and where it is from.

BCU: What made you choose this particular job?

R: I chose this job partly because it was in London and that's where I wanted to be, but also I relished the idea of working along side enthusiastic people in an interesting atmosphere.

BCU: How has studying Horology at BCU helped prepare you?

R: My time at BCU was invaluable as it allows my employer to trust that I know what I am doing and can get on with it which is important in a commercial environment when time is of the essence. The Horology course at BCU covers so many aspects of clock and watch making throughout the three years which gave me the confidence to tackle all the challenges of a new job!

BCU: What's your favourite memory of your time at BCU?

R: One of my favourite memories was the second week of the first year when we had to file a perfect cube. The task sent everyone a bit mad, which was the start of a fun three years.

BCU: What advise would you give to someone starting out in their Horology degree?

R: I would advise that new students of the course get involved with all the extra curricular activities that they can: the Clock and Watch fair, the Dingwall-Beloe lectures, the BHI and AHS meetings. It makes the degree a real 3D thing and applies your learning to the real world. It also creates the opportunity to meet people which, as it is a small community, is very useful.

BCU: Where would you like to be in ten years' time?.

R: In ten years time I would like to have made a few more clocks and have perfected the design for my Horizon Clock. The rest is an open book at the moment; I'd like to take the next couple of years to work out what I enjoy the most in order to expand on that.

BCU: Thank you for your time Rosie! See you soon.

Graduate Interview Andrew Law

Graduate Interview:
Andrew Law

If you've ever wondered, like I have, what students from our course get up to after they graduate then this is for you. We will catch up with different members of BA Horology Alumni over the next few months & find out how they're getting on. First up is Andrew:

BCU: So Andrew, what have you been doing since graduating from BA Horology?

A: I got a job with the Swatch Group UK, went to Hong Kong for training and have been working for the Swatch Group for 3 months now.

BCU: What made you choose this particular job?

A: I loved Omega, so working with that brand was my main objective from leaving uni.

BCU: How has studying Horology at BCU helped prepare you?

A: The prior knowledge of work with quartz watches, water-testing, setting hands and case work gave me a head start on some of the people that didn't have that knowledge. Other skills I learnt will be used and improved when I progress in the company.

BCU: What's your favourite memory of your time at BCU?

A: The favourite memory of the degree was laughing in lectures when I shouldn't be!

BCU: What advise would you give to someone starting out in their Horology degree?

A: Learn the avenue you want to go down, i.e restoration of old movements, servicing for a big company , or whatever you wanna do. With every minute of your spare time learn the industry and practice! You can never practice things that you've been taught too many times.

BCU: Where would you like to be in ten years' time?

A: I have no idea what I'm going to do in 10 years! Hopefully be doing some extra watchmaking training!

Thanks Andrew. Best of luck at Swatch & keep us posted!

Photo Essay: Making a Clock!

So our deadlines are looming along with the end of the degree and, to go with it, the first ever BA (Hons) Horology graduate show. (shameless plug: June 15-18; see you there)

Our major project in third year is to make our own clocks to the designs we create in second year. This is without a doubt the biggest part of the course, and as well as carrying a very large percentage of the final marks, acts in a way as a very physical representation of our skills. Because of this it's not something to be taken lightly!

My own clock is nearly complete, and I have been going through pictures of the build in order to write the supporting text for the hand-in. I thought I'd share the images with you, explaining what's going on.

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.

Workshop Wednesday 04/02/15

It's the first Workshop Wednesday of the year!

Watch out! It's watch time!

We are now being introduced to the wonders of watch work.  After another trip to the horological suppliers to get some of the specialist tools required we start with... a clock!

Platform escapement on a carriage clock

The platform escapement on a carriage clock is the same technology as found in a watch, but on a larger scale - ideal for learning about how a watch works and the techniques for servicing a watch.  Take it apart checking for faults along the way, clean it and then reassemble while putting all the right oil in all the right places.  Practice makes perfect so repeat, rinse and repeat.

Then we move down one step on the size scale and start working on... a watch! (albeit a pocket watch.)

Pocket watch ETA 6497 movement

The practice with the carriage clock platform escapement has stood us in good stead for dealing with this little beauty.  We only started on it yesterday but it has been a lot of fun so far.

And after this we move on to quartz watches.  Apparently, there is more to them than just changing the batteries ;-)

Into the second term...

It seems a long time ago, back in September, when fourteen of us arrived at the School of Jewellery and started on our journey into the world of horology.  And what an adventure it has been so far!

There has been plenty of work to do: technical drawing with pencil and paper and using CAD; the history of timekeeping and the theory of horological mechanisms; The "Longitude Problem" and the history of the marine chronometer;  study of design in historical and modern context; materials, mechanics and the use of tools and other fabrication processes and machinery.  Every other spare minute was spent in the workshop, honing our hand skills and putting the theory into practice.

We all enjoyed time in the workshop the best.  After the traditional apprentice's exercise of filing a cube we moved on to making a Mini Clock.  It looks like a clock, it is built using the techniques required to build a clock but won't actually become a working clock.  (We make a working clock, to our own design, in the third year).  It was a real challenge, especially if you had no experience of metalworking at the start of the course!

My Mini Clock at the end of the first term

Unfortunately one of our number had to leave the course so that he could spend more time with his family.  A great loss to the team.

And so, into the second term...

Omega Geneve Restoration

I bought this lovely gents 1960s Omega Geneve last year and finally in 3rd year thought it was the perfect time to return it to its former glory. It had been massively neglected and water had gotten into the winding mechanism.

 

 The glass was badly scratched up and the crown was missing.

The case was banged up and the strap was very badly worn.

London Hackspace

Over the summer I was introduced to the London Hackspace which resides in Hackney - quite appropriately I think. It's an amazing place where creative things happen and has a treasure trove of resources. I have visited the Brighton and Birmingham version in the past and knew that there was equipment for computer hacking and machines such as 3D printers however I was surprised to find that they had gadgets for all kinds of creative construction. It's a community affair and anyone can use the facilities so I recommend having a look and potentially becoming a member. It would be a great place to use in the holidays away from the college workshop.

Workshop Wednesday 03/12/14

A before and after shot of a balance spring Lance is working on

2 1/2 weeks left of term before the Christmas holidays and deadlines are fast approaching. Second and third years need to hand in half of their repair portfolios of clocks or watches and the first and second years have making projects to hand in - the mini clock and the cock and plate project.

It's been an exciting term with many people showing an interest in the course, most notably The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles came and spoke to our students.

Workshop Wednesday 29/10/14

Longcase clocks on test

After a long summer break, we are back in full swing with the third years working hard on their final masterpiece, the second years starting their portfolio of work and the first years on their cube and mini clock. It's been so busy we haven't had time to update the blog so we'll ease in gently with some pictures of what's going on in the workshop.

Watch Case Refurbishment

This week I've been polishing cases on watches that are being serviced. It's not something that's normally done by watchmakers unless they own their own shop, but is a great skill to have. I've documented the process of refurbing a Tag Carerra for you to see how it works. At the end are before and after shots of a selection of other Tag Heuer watches, too!

BHI Practical Exam - Second Year

Over the last few weeks Rosie and I have been working on the BHI practical exam, in which you are given a technical drawing for a multi-part item made from different materials and finishes with tolerances of 0.05mm, and required to make it - this year it was a cock and plate. You're given three weeks, but this is to allow you time to make mistakes. I was definitely glad for the excessive time last year, but this year having made a more similar, but much more complex, practical piece as part of the degree, I found this exam to be largely straight-forward. See after the break for a picture diary!

Class of 2014 Final Clocks

Sadly this is a short post, as we have just two students leaving us. We do, however, still have two excellent clocks to show!

Rosie's Horizon Clock

Another clock design for you to have a look at. My design is very different to James' who has posted below so it's good to have a preview of the variety of clocks that will be on show in 2015.

What's the course like? BCU interview.

The university recently conducted a number of interviews with students to allow people considering the courses a brief insight into what they have to look forward to. You can find the two minute video for horology after the break:

Designing a clock.

This is Just a brief insight into some of the work I've done to work toward my final year clock project. We had this year to do all the design work so we could have everything planned for next year, giving as much time to work on them as possible.

BHI Automatic Watches Course

 Over the Easter break a number of students from second year visited the BHI for a week long (four days for us due to good Friday) course on automatic watches, which looks at both Swiss and Japanese movements. We had John Murphy as a tutor, a very knowledgeable watchmaker who was an excellent (and patient!) teacher! Here's a few photos from the course.

AHS Turret Clock Day at Big Brum

The 'Big Brum' Clock Tower

The Antiquarian Horological Society's Turret Clock Group meet four times a year, and this Spring was held in Birmingham so that members and students could climb the Big Brum Tower in the centre of Birmingham.

Making a Recoil Escapement

This term's project for the second year Applied Studies module was to make a recoil escapement to fit to the mini clocks we made in our first year.  Follow after the break to see the process I followed: