Gents' Pulsynetic Waiting Train Electric Turret Clock

A Gent's Pulsynetic Waiting Train Electric Turret Clock from ~1939 running on 20 Volts DC. The movement is sitting on a temporary stand in the workshop. A Gent's Pulsynetic Master is resetting the Waiting Train mechanism to time with a low voltage impulse very precisely at 30 second intervals. Without the master clock the 'WT' would keep very poor time indeed. The master clock ensures the 'WT' keeps time to within just a few seconds per week. The Hipp toggle (which is rattling across its V-block) only takes power for the big drive electromagnets when the pendulum falls to a smaller arc. Filmed with the Video Option of a Canon Ixus 860IS digital still camera under fluorescent lighting against an old sheet to hide the untidy background.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• clock
• turret
• Pulsynetic
• electric
• master
• impulse
• Gent's
• Waiting
• Train
• electromagnet
• Hipp
• toggle
• pendulum
• dial
• WT

[Tricyklist]

Sorry, I am based in Europe. Not the US.

Are you with Smiths?

[virginiaorganbuilder]

OH! I SEE! (I'm new to this) When the pendulum slows down enough, the little swinging arm activates a switch which energizes the big electromagnets to give the pendulum a push, then get out of the way. And that's just the beginning of this amazing mechanism! Fifty more views and I'll have it...

[Tricyklist]

Hi, Exactly! The little lever is called a Hipp toggle and it has a V-Block just below it fixed on top of the electrical contacts.These act as a mechanical switch connected to the big electromagnets. When the pendulum arc drops below the point where the toggle can no longer clear the block it pushes down on the V-block closing the contacts. The powerful magnets then attract the hinged armature and gives the pendulum a good hard push. The pendulum then swings free for another minute or so.

[Tricyklist]

Hi John, Many thanks for your kind comments. I intend to build a simple steadycam to improve my camera control. A fixed tripod is a little too static but using a hand-held camera far more difficult than I imagined. Using the hanging weight of my massive video tripod was simply too much and had far too much moment when I wanted to change direction. Did you click on "more info" over on the right of my video page? I have a simple blog on my Gent's turret clock. Click on my user name for a link.

[jjsmizzle317]

Tricy..can you contact me asap. I have one of these clocks that needs some attention. 317-847-4092

[ChiefStressman]

Magnificent mechanism! Splendid HQ video of this engineering masterpiece! A fine piece of restoration and a job well done! Many thanks, John