Spider Automaton

I love to point out new, artistic creations that are mechanical. Here's another great automaton found by the Automaton Blog.

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The Hermle Quartz Chiming Mechanism

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One of the quality and trouble-free movements found in many of our clocks is the Quartz chiming mechanism by Hermle. These are excellent, accurate, and durable devices which are made in Germany and sound great too! The Hermle quartz movements are workhorses in the clock world, because they can provide premier sound and accuracy for many different kinds of clocks. The mechanisms also provide lots of options for how and when the clock chimes. Here's a diagram of the version of the movement which includes a moving pendulum: Setup instructions for this movement are very simple: 1. Insert batteries. Because of a special coating that Energizer brand batteries uses on their contacts which is not compatible with this devices contacts, it is best to use any other brand besides Energizer. Duracell or almost any other generic brand will work fine. If your clock starts chiming erratically, or (if so equipped) the pendulum stops, please install new batteries. 2. If your clock has a mo...
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Setting a Hermle w1217 Quartz Movement

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Here's a great post from Instructables on how to set the time and chime on an old w 1217 Hermle movement. This German-made movement was a pioneer in bringing a "real-sounding" chime to a quartz movement. If your older clock has one of these movements, and it doesn't work, it's more cost-effective to replace it with a more modern mechanism. But, if you just need to set it, here are some good step-by-step instructions on how to do so. From Instructables : Top left are the STOP and START buttons. Three knobs along the left side are also buttons. A knob in the center sets the analog hands. Upper right corner has the Make (Hermle) and Model# (1217) Lower right is the battery compartment. - The STOP button stops the analog movement and resets all digital settings. - The START button begins keeping time after you're done setting the clock. - Knob 1 sets the time in the digital portion of the clock. Turn the knob to the number you wish to set and press it until you...
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Care of cuckoo clock chains

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Every so often we want to hang a cuckoo clock (or any clock that is powered by weights) in a place where there might not be room for the weights to fall. This is an old problem. In fact, visitors can see where, in Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello , Jefferson cut holes in the floor to allow his clock to run longer. The weights fell through the floor into the room below and added a longer running time for the clock. New clock owners frequently ask if they have to allow the weights to fall freely to the floor for the full 5-6 ft. distance. "Will it harm the clock if I hang it over a table or sideboard?" The answer is no, you will not harm the clock, but obstructing the fall of the weights will stop it from running the full 1 or 8 days. It simply means that you will have to wind the clock more frequently. If the owner of the clock does wish to hang it over something he or she may want to secure the chains somehow so that they don't interfere. The best way to do this ...
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