To use this site just click on the buttons at the top of the page to go to the beginning of each horological sub-category.

This website is divided into the three areas of horology that interest me. They are tower clocks (also known as turret clocks in the UK), skeleton clocks and bank vault time locks. The common theme is the fact that one can see the mechanism. When these clocks are running, they become beautiful kinetic pieces of art. This is especially true at the scale demonstrated by the tower clocks.

Another aspect of the collection is that it encompasses the full range of time movement sizes that a person might encounter in the world of horology. From a few ounces and an inch or so across - the size of a watch, to over a one-half ton, 6 foot wide tower clock. The oldest clock is from the late 1400's and the newest from 2003.

I also enjoy the restoration of time pieces, in particular, tower clocks. There is something very satisfying in bringing an ugly, rusted piece of machinery back to life as a beautiful kinetic sculpture. The Restorations button goes through a typical restoration process for tower, skeleton and time locks. One will get a sense of how labor intensive (labor of love?) this process can be.

I written papers on tower clocks and the Westminster clock. A discussion on remontoire along with visual aids can all be accessed through the Other Items button.

Below is the model of a commission I am funding to have a large clock built which can be seen under the Astro skeleton button, above, to be built over the next four years; beginning July 2007. Details are here (uses Acrobat Reader) as well as in the August 2007 issue of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Bulletin. Watch the construction as it progresses.

Interested in selling or a trade? Please contact me.

The site is graphics intensive and is best enjoyed with a high speed internet connection. Video clips will play on Windows Media Player or RealOne Player, under Internet Explorer. Any questions, comments, suggestions email me: mfrank1@rcn.com. 

Member of: National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC),  NAWCC Chicago Chapter #3, NAWCC Tower Clock Chapter #134, British Horological Institute (BHI), Antiquarian Horological Society (AHS), American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWI). For more information about these organizations and other sites of interest click LINKS page.

Site last updated: December 2008

                          Bank Vault Time Locks

Read papers on the history of tower clocks. The accident in 1976 to the clock at Westminster (Big Ben). The theory and applications of remontoire.

                            Restoration Projects