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Cherry Steeple Clock

Project by TomFran posted 474 days ago 398 views 0 times favorited 21 comments Add to Favorites
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TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


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clock cherry clocks nautical ship ships

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Cherry Steeple Clock Cherry Steeple Clock Cherry Steeple Clock Click the pictures to enlarge them

I used a modified plan which I purchased from Emperor Clock Company to build this clock. It took me quite a while to complete the project because it challenged my abililty at the time. I actually put it away for at least a year at which time I plunged back into it and completed it.

I later gave it to my mother. While she had it, it kept stopping (because it was not being lubricated on a timely basis like these movements require), so she took it to a local “clock repair shop” who removed the solid brass West German movement and installed a AA battery movement. He told my Mom, that he couldn’t fix it. Oh well – that’s life.

Anyway, I’m glad I finally finished it…

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28


21 comments so far

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

4170 posts in 700 days


posted 474 days ago

Very elegant, Tom. Unless you’re a real purist, battery movements are the way to go.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4573 posts in 792 days


posted 474 days ago

Nice Romanesque clock. Very pretty wood grain on the side, too.

-- Jesus is Lord!

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 474 days ago

Charlie,

I wish they would have had them when I first built the clock – it would have been a lot cheaper! And, I agree with you that today, with how reliable these quartz movements are, it is definitely the way to go. But, I seems like there’s just something “more sophisticated” about an all brass movement from West Germany… ;^D

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5348 posts in 547 days


posted 473 days ago

Excellent job Tom – did the repairman return the brass movement?

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11909 posts in 642 days


posted 473 days ago

you think maybe he really liked the brass movement from West Germany and well… did the old switcheroonie??

Beautiful clock.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 473 days ago

Bill & Debbie,

That’s the part that makes me wonder – he did not give the old movement back to my mom. : (

The movement also “gonged” on the hour and half hour. In today’s money, it would probably cost around $200.

The good news is that the new movement works and has a pendulum that swings, and that most folks wouldn’t even realize any of these finer details!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11909 posts in 642 days


posted 473 days ago

and such is life … things happen and we hopefully learn from them.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View mot's profile

mot

4837 posts in 518 days


posted 473 days ago

That’s really nice. Clocks are on that long and ever growing list of things that I want to make. So many projects, so little time. I can live vicariously through woodworkers like you, Tom. Thanks!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View rudedog552's profile

rudedog552

47 posts in 492 days


posted 473 days ago

Great job! how did you finish it?

-- Randy - Live by the spirit...Galatians 5:16

View Karson's profile

Karson

12889 posts in 882 days


posted 473 days ago

I’ve made a few clocks using sawmill slabs, that still have the bark on them. They are a cheap and easy way to make them.

But nothing is quite like a handmade clock.

Sorry about the rip-off on your mother. But she is happy. Satasfaction is #1.

Great Job.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 459 days ago

Randy,
I finished it with 3 coats of varnish and then rubbed it out with pumice to get a nice even sheen. I also applied a “splatter” finish to give it an antique look. The splatter is with a thinned jet black paint that is applied by flicking the brush at the project. The final coat is then applied over that.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View Don's profile

Don

2586 posts in 658 days


posted 458 days ago

This is real nice, Tom.

From the front view it looks like the clock has two columns. But from the side it’s apparent that the columns run into the sides without a break. I’m curious as to how you made this. Can you tell us more?

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 458 days ago

Don, perhaps this picture will help to explain how the sides and columns are constructed.

Clock Image 1

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 458 days ago

Here is another view from a different angle. The front columns are, of course, wider than the 3/4” stock of the sides. You can see, in both pictures, the gong that is left over from the West German movement that used to be in this clock.

Clock 2

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 404 days ago

”I’m curious as to how you made this. Can you tell us more?” - Don

Don,

I was looking at your comment today, and realized that I didn’t really tell you more about how I made my clock. So here is a little more commentary on this project.

First of all, I made this clock when I had a large shop and all top notch machines, along with a full size European cabinet maker’s workbench made of solid beech. I also had a wood lathe, which enabled me to turn the top finials. I ended up selling ALL of my equipment and went off the Bible college to study for the pastoral ministry. Iif you look at my project page on this site, you’ll see that I have a turned lamp with a Tiffany shade, an oak lapdesk, and a night stand. All of those projects were made, when I had all my machines and a nice spacious shop (about 5 times bigger that the one I have now). It was located in my basement when I lived in Pennsylvania. I also had an abundant supply of local hardwood (like the cherry I made this out of).

On this clock, I did deviate from the plans that I had somewhat. The plans did not include the feet on the bottom of the clock.The finials were a little different, and the molding on the base was not on the original plan.

To join the members of the front clock door, I used spine joints, which worked well (photos below).

The back door is resawed cherry that I “bookmatched” as you can see from the the third photo on the top of this page.

The glass with the ship painted on it , clock face, and door pull, came with the plans and the German movement that I ordered at the time (Emperor Clock Company).

The project was really was way over my head, and it challenged me, because everything had to be so precise. Building clocks is not like building a deck. If you’re off by more than a 64th, you may as well throw the piece out.

While we were raising my children and providing for their Christian education, I didn’t do a lot of woodwork, because I was busy working a lot of overtime. Now that they have all grown up and moved away, I have some time to get back into woodwork and some money to buy some tools again. Maybe I’ll get back into this level of woodworking again (not that this is so amazing, but it is more difficult than say, my Pelican lamp).

Spline at middle of door.

Spline at door bottom.

Mortise for bullet catch.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View Don's profile

Don

2586 posts in 658 days


posted 404 days ago

Tom, thanks so much for the additional information. I think the reason that small clocks are my next favorite to small wooden boxes which I just love, is for the very reason you explain. They require precision and as you have just done, a close inspection is always warranted.

This is truly the work of a craftsman. Thank you.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

1159 posts in 170 days


posted 96 days ago

this is certainly a beautiful clock and I’m sorry about your Mom getting ripped off like that . Didn’t the guy ask her first if she wanted it replaced by a battery operated clock ? I would have been so P**d off about it , but as long as she is content that is all that really matters at this point. Beautiful craftsmanship !! ttyl

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 96 days ago

Dusty,

Thanks again for the gracious comments. As to my mother getting ripped off, I’m over it at this point. And, I have to say that this battery operated movement keeps good time and is relilable. The one with the West German movement would stop working occasionally when it needed some oil.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

5597 posts in 333 days


posted 91 days ago

Too bad about the shonky clock maker Tom but you did a great job on the casing.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 476 days


posted 91 days ago

Thanks a lot, Grumpy. This is one of my better pieces. When I made this clock, I had a large shop with some great power tools. And, it was before the children came along. Thus, I had a great situation to do some quality woodwork. Now, I have more time, but don’t have the spacious shop, but, who knows, maybe I’ll have one again. I am thankful for my small shop, but it does limit what you can do.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

5597 posts in 333 days


posted 88 days ago

Tom, the main thing is you still have a shop & an interest.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

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