Tourbillon clock ( # 40) my tourbillon clock

I began designing my tourbillon as part of an orrery. Practical reasons induced me to revise the initial project and I decided to build only the "tourbillon clock". I first found a balance spring of proper dimensions, then built its balance wheel . I was able to verify its period of vibration which turned out to be 60. It was then possible to design the wheels train. The escapement selected was the Mudge type and its escape wheel was cut with the usual 15 teeth. As the construction was going on, I choose to complicate my life to the maximum by deciding that ALL pivots (even where it was not necessary) should run in jeweled bearings. As usual when something is already made, everything seems evident, but to design a clock in which the position of the fusee and the barrel arbor were symmetrical, proved not that easy.

When I originally designed my tourbillon clock I had not planed to have seconds hand (as I said before the mechanism was to move the planets in a orrery), but a friend of mine, Silvio, insisted that I introduce one into the project- by then already advanced -and this proved to have a positive effect on the final look of the clock. I must stress that the construction of the clock has been marred by accidents. For example, once I have finished the construction of the clock, understandably wanting to see it working, I started winding the main spring, but at the middle of winding it , the wire broke and only fingers of my right hand could tell you what they experienced .

I replaced the wire, but the mishap (and the fingers of my right hand can again confirm it) was repeated. I dismantled the clock and, having found no problems, I decided that the wire (I was using a phosphorous bronze one) must be defective. To cut a long story short , I decided to replace the wire with a steel one (I know how blasphemous this may seem, but what else was there for me to do after so many attempts?). Almost inevitably during the winding the same mishap occurred again.

This time I tried to restrain the winding key while it was unwinding, and the muscle of my arm - already painful due to an earlier fall - received a counterblow which made me cry out .I then discovered a 10 in. diameter bruise on my arm. However - as I am an optimist and I try to find something positive in adversity- having unwillingly tried to stop the unwinding fusee,it occurred that my poor arm absorbed the energy which should have broken the wire. And in a blinding flash I had the truth. Through I was in considerable pain ,I was smiling because I now realized that the wire was upright

and I therefore deduced that it was the fusee at the end of its foolish run which was cutting the wire rather then the wire breaking and leaving the fusee to run wild. I dismantled everything and found that the small click spring of the ratchet wheel inside the fusee, which held it during the winding, was invisibly broken . I built a new spring which mean I can now quietly wind the clock (to the joy of my fingers). Should you like my tourbillon clock, please let me know. Thank you

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