Joe's Biography & All About These Clocks

Joe has always been interested in clock mechanisms. With his knowledge of clock history and love for woodworking he has created clock mechanisms that operate by weights only. No batteries or electricity is needed to run the clocks. Joe, a tool and die maker by trade, became interested in making a clock entirely out of wood. His clocks resemble the first weight driven models invented in the 14th century. A weight driven clock in Salisbury Cathedral in England dated 1386, is still working to-day. Clocks in the 14th century had hour-hands only. Joe has added the minute hand for to-days clocks. The clock movements rely on an oscillating sway bar that causes a large steel weight to descend and the small weights to move along the bar, adjusting the time. On one wind up, each clock is accurate to within a minute or two of its running time, and is maintenance free. The gears are made of selected, well seasoned hard maple. Joe makes all his own tools to produce the clocks. Joe finds that his clocks are quite appealing to artists and idealists and to both the young and the old. His clocks have caught the interest of clock enthusiasts from around the world. Crafted by Joe are several types of clocks. The finished clock, the wooden clock kit. and the clock puzzle. The clock kits are for people who want to be part of the creative process. A lot of time goes into making the clocks. Joe finds working on the clocks both pleasurable and relaxing and more of a hobby than a business. These wooden clocks are really a work of art in themselves. The large ones like Colonial, cubic kits, etc. have red- oak backboards because oak can easily be stained in light or dark wood stains. Dials are hard maple (bird's eye when we can get it}. Support columns for the front plate are red oak. Decorative knobs hiding the holes for wall hanging are maple. Weights are cold rolled steel, sprayed gold paint. Brass pins on the top gear. Hard nylon bushings and hardened and ground steel dowels attach the gears to back boards and front plate. Hands rotate on "O" rings. Just remember that "Normal household dust will not affect the gears" No oiling required on the gears". Clock will last for years and years. Can be handed down from generation to generation. The clock can be also known as a Heritage clock. Checking clocks made 30 yrs ago show no signs of wear. The gears, after being measured by the micrometer, still measure the same. The large clocks are made from a variety of hardwoods. Gears for instance are made from pre-turned hard maple pieces, which are 20 and more years old. The finishing operations are spread out over a 2 year period, at which time the wood structure becomes stable. Unlike the "middle age" clocks, these have some modern technology when it comes to bearings, hidden from view of course. They are expected to far outlast our own life times. The exposed gears do not gather dust because of their constant rotating.

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