Winding the mechanism that powers Big Ben

[supertecie123]

Very precarios. It seems that the clock makes an great tick ticktock tock ticktock tick while getting winded

[biglift1]

very nice to see this :) question: is the mechanism of the clock also open to the public to have a look ?

[Tomsonic41]

How come the bells don't sound when the chiming and striking wheels are being wound backwards?

[douro20]

In 1913 an electric motor was installed to facilitate rewinding the clock. But the reserve mechanism has to be wound by hand. As I understand it, Dent made the clock itself, but not the carillon.

[pennyf9]

that clock is a beast.

[nickhetherman]

that ticing noise is the tic toc of the clock dah. and also great video i collect clocks too!!!!!

[srfurley]

@nickhetherman

There's also the noise of the pawls dropping in between the ratchet teeth as the clock is wound. You can see one of them on the ratchet at the back of the drum in the striking train.

I'd like to know more about the mechanism which maintains the clock during the winding of the going train.

[palexandersquires]

great craftmanship best ever turret clock or clock tower type of clock

[ChorleyClaret1981]

shame we can't hear him. need a microphone

[pennyf9]

That looks like fun!

[ingerlander]

Two men to wind a clock, must be a government job and also explains why Britain is not what it once was.

[madabbafan]

@ingerlander raising a half imperial tonne weight the full length of the tower is hard work so taking turns in winding it up wakes sense.

[talshiarr]

@madabbafan People like him are so petty they'd probably want it abandoned. We're full of those types in America, small minded people that think every penny should be wasted on welfare programs and deadbeats.

[12Pascal21]

Thanks for this video on the Clock Tower maintenance.

It would be interesting to see the timekeeping mechanism (gear train, escapement and pendulum) work on a video !!!

[pinjimandvakito]

good old clockwork

[ccccony]

FINALLY something not made in China. Which explains its longevity.

[pennyf9]

@ccccony thats true.

[scorinaldi]

@ccccony yes, like that pesky wall they built that never lasted. or that longest continuous running human civilization in history, you ignorant moron.

[lavaxtris1]

@scorinaldi actually that wall is currently half there and serves no real purpose, much like a broken TV at the end of a driveway.

[scorinaldi]

@lavaxtris1 a broken TV that is A WONDER OF THE WORLD. sorry silly, your china hate is unfounded in this case.

[lavaxtris1]

@scorinaldi I don't hate China, I just realize that they don't make things to last. It's cheap labor.

[Magnificentic]

Think:

Beautiful, these old mechanisms! Today's electronics may make life comforable but don't last long...so they get discharged and dumped and replaced for new trash. Again using valuable resources and polluting the earth. Men should be more reluctant with making and buying things we don't actually need for living, if we want to keep our children and theirs living like we do in future. What do we leave behind for them? At least the Big Ben I guess, but HOPEFULLEY more!

[chena3]

how many oil points

on winding mechanism

[scott93257]

magnificent :)

[emmettsgirl981]

What time do they wind it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday?

[clockbuilderhg]

Since winding takes an hour and a half, do the chime and strike trains have maintaining power? Otherwise it seems they would have to stop winding every 15 minutes to restore power to the trains so the clock can chime.

[LUNCHBOX762X39]

so do thay need to wind it every time? how many times a day do thay need to do this??

[gazzyh]

@LUNCHBOX762X39 3 times a week, as he stated in the video, on Monday Wednesday and Friday.

[LUNCHBOX762X39]

aaaahh thank you it is hard to here him on the video!

[malcior180]

the oilers that im refering to are at least 2in in diameter and are 1 in in height

but i see how you would think that it would be dificult

a: make a replica of the area with a small cylinder for the oiler output valve

drill a hole for the valve on the origional piece and risk harming it

ohhh ohhh does it go through part replacement?

if it does then have the replacment with a cylindrical hole for the oiler output valve

but just my opinion which may or may not work

just sayin'

tschüs

[malcior180]

why not have oilers like a container of oil and connected to a regulary oiled spot and fill it when needed and so when the machine needs oil it will oil it self metaforically

[orion2ktc]

Because you really can't mount something in such a small room on a 150 year old piece of equipment. Something like this requires a personal, manual touch.

[virginiaorganbuilder]

Glad to see that you use ear protection! What a great job to have. I imagine it's not easy to get to work on this magnificent clock. Thanks for keeping it going!

[malcior180]

wonder how long it takes to wind

[Organs1234]

great to have some decent videos

[Big19Ben86]

Another great video from u. Keep on posting and thanks alot.

Cheers...:-)