Grandfather clock

[kevinmcc]

Gents,

I have finally bitten the bullet and decided to try and build a grandfather clock. I downloaded a plan from a Canadian site (Murray Clocks) and am in the process of working out a cutting list and trying to get a handle on movements, dials etc. I am sure a lot of you have tried this sort of project already.

Do any of you have tips or warnings before I start parting out my hard earned? What are the odds regarding importing a movement from overseas vs buying in Australia? They all seem to offer Hermle German movements, but model numbers are very different and so are prices. These suckers weigh around 35 - 40 kg and I'm sure that freight is a factor, and taxes would also come into play. I'm not sure if it is really cheaper to import?

I'm looking at Tasmanian Myrtle or figured red gum as a basic material. Any ideas on how suitable either is for this task? I'd appreciate any input at all.

cheers

Kevin

[simon c]

For some inspiration check this link as to how the grandfather clock got it's name:
http://www.theclockdepot.com/history_of_the_grandfather_clock.html

So you need to make sure it will be too tall for a shelf and that the mechanism will last for 90 years. 35 -40 kg seems a bit light for a grandfather - give or take a pennyweight.

[fxst]

re importing movements ...take into account that there will be duty and gst to be paid and that is on the Oz $ cost not the price in euros or US $ ect including the cost of freight could get a tad expensive. :eek:
Jonathon Knowles has the hermle movements and a good price at that .
the price of the movement stopped my attempt at the same project a couple years ago.
good luck and dont forget to take & post pics of the project as you finish each stage :D
Pete

[kevinmcc]

Simon,

The 35-40 kg weight is just for the movement.

Pete,

Thanks for your thoughts, I know about Jonathan Knowles, but I think the Australian agent is CMI. I have their catalogue and price list. They use different model numbers to the Murray clock company who also sell Hermle in Canada, but the price difference is startling. For example, a movement that looks identical in the photos, despite totally different model numbers, costs A$910 from CMI but C$499 from Murray clock. In both cases, the movement has to be originally imported from Germany, with whatever local taxes that apply being paid before the sell price is struck. I think we are being ripped off.

I have looked at ebay, and there are a lot of new and used movements available, but mostly from the USA and in a lot of cases they are not complete. I am not a clock maker, so I need all the gubbins and a warranty when I buy this thing.

I am really keen to hear from anyone who has already trod the murky path of researching the best value way of buying a movement. Also, I am very interested in your thoughts on the choice of timber.

cheers

Kevin

[Iain]

Take a leisurely drive to the Bairnsdale Clock Museum, as well as old long case clocks he also has a variety of movements (new) for sale, I think they are about $900.00 with weights.
Just a little trivia (from a clock collector) the reason for the long case came about as a result of the length of the pendulum, the prescribed length allows it to swing through an arc in one second therefore self regulating the movement....................in theory.

[Rocker]

Kevin,

I don't know where you got the figure of 35-40 kg for the movement. When I made a grandfather clock a few years ago, the movement only weighed about 2 kg, and it was not an electronic one either.

I think the most essential piece of advice is to buy the movement and face before you make the clock, so that you can ensure that the case's dimensions suit the particular movement you buy.

Lonnie Bird has a series of articles on building a grandfather clock in FW #171-#173.

Rocker

[Sprog]

Kevin,

I would buy the movent in OZ, if anything goes wrong it is much easier to return.
Have a look in the Carbatec catalogue plenty on movements and suitable plans in there.
CarbatecWA have run workshops on making long case clocks, might be worth an email to them to see if they have any advice or help they can give.
I have found them very forth coming with helpful information.

[seriph1]

I'm with Rocker - face matters ...... I have only built one longcase clock and had to make the face as I couldnt find one that I liked. If I build another, I will search high and low for a simple authentic face from an 18th century longcase.

[kevinmcc]

Thanks Gents,

Good advice all around. I have revisited the weight of the movement, and it is actually 35 lb, not kilos, and it includes the weights. Carbatec handle the Hermle movements as a distributor for CMI. I am quite happy with the plans I have and I bought the wood yesterday (myrtle), so I am poised on the brink.

I know that everyone says buy the movement first, but I intend to start over the Christmas break making the bottom two of the three sections of the clock case. I won't start the hood until I have a movement. I am still in two minds as to whether to import or buy locally. Even allowing for freight and GST, the imported option is still a lot cheaper for the same brand of movement, and I am not rolling in the readies.

cheers

Kevin

[Coldamus]

If it is not too late for further inspiration, check out this site:
http://www.black-forest-hill.com.au/grandfather.htm

These clocks are all fully built, of course, but there are some lovely examples. Some of the wall clocks are also very nice.

regards
Coldamus

[ozwinner]

http://www.hermle.com.au/products.html

[lyctus]

Kevin, Take great care in two things. 1. That the plan is designed around the movement you choose to instal. It is so easy to happily build a case only to find that a critical dimension does not suit the movemnet you have purchased. Look carefully at the clock pages in the carbatec catalogue as they have linked the case plans to the movement and this ensures that the movement you choose will fit and work.2. Be really careful if you decide to go down the road of importing. You will be shocked at the end of the day to find that the inexpensive canadian offering will probably cost $200+ more on your front porch than the movements available locally. I know it sounds attractive, I recently imported a rare large item similar, but no where near trhe weight /volume of a clock movement and it really hurt. I could have bought locally cheaper as it turned out, and like you, I thoughtthe locally available item was far too expensive. Wish I had picked it up locally ! Be warned, a clock movement packed for overseas freight is one large carton, and freight comp[anies "cube up" the box to give them the Kg/volume equation which they use to charge the freight. You may rue the day !BTW, I have built two long case clocks and used locally available Hermle movements. Beautiful !

[seriph1]

good advice there. A way I have had success addressing this is to get a firm shipping price from the vendors first. If it costs them more, it is their issue then.

Also, I buy HEAVY items - like books and magazines, which are not time-critical to me - ie: I am happy to get them "whenever" they arrive.

I found this way by far the cheapest.