Finish strike hammer linkages - March 2014                     

These nine photos show how a set of knurl knobs are created from raw brass stock. The sixth photo shows thr knurl tool at the bottom of the photo.

The knurls are now installed into the bell support frames. These are used to adjust the distance from the bell that the hammer sits and thus the loudness of the strike. Notice in the last photo that the screws which formerly were of a cheese head design are now cut down to a more subtle oval profile.

Now Buchanan drills the guide holes that will accept the tapered screws to both secure and position the rod that the bells are attached to the clock frame. The second photo shows the five different tools needed to make the specialized threaded and tapered holes. Buchanan had to make specialized extensions for each bit so as to be able to clear the bell support outriggers as shown in the first photo. Next is a photo of the tapered screws. These are the same type used to secure the main frame pillars that support the remontoire fly fans

Here are two photos of the three birds for the three bell hammers.

These six photos show some of the steps that Buchanan does to make a cross bar that will serve to connect the bird actuators to the levers that connect to the bell hammers.

Notice the detail in this part. It could have functioned just as well as a plain cylinder with a threaded hole. The same for the connecting rod. Buchanan could have simply used a plain rod with a threaded end instead of tapering the end before threading, thus giving it an elegant end point. One can see, a bit out of focus, the carrousels that serve as the cam work to acting upon the bird actuators.

The bell hammer frames are now disassembled and work begins on the chatons that will hold the roller bearings for the pivots that will hold the arbors connected to the bell hammers. The chatons are seen in the first photo. Next the holes are threaded in the hammer frames. Next all of the frames are shown with the chatons attached. The last two photos show the assembled frame before and after the hammer arbor is installed.

Here are the various parts used for the hammer head levers.

The hammer lifting levers are now complete. The first photo shows the center pivot cylinders, again with beautiful machined detail.

This photo shows a close up of the knurl knobs used to adjust and lock the hammer head positions as it relates to the surface of the bell as well as the pivot upon which these are attached. The cross member upon which the hammer rod pulls are mounted is now finished off.