AN IMPRESSIVE WOODEN SKELETON TIMEPIECE

Constructed from a variety of woods including African blackwood, oak, English cherry, ash, walnut and lignum vitae, with X-shaped frame and turned pillars, all the wheelwork with lignum vitae teeth, flanked by an X-framed ball-lifting machine, powered by an electric motor in the plinth

106 cm high; 85 cm wide; 29 cm deep

*** All proceeds are to benefit The St Francis Hospice Charity.

James Stickings has been passionate about woodwork since a child.  A Fellow of the Institute of Carpenters, he was a senior lecturer in the wood trades.

He had wanted to build a clock entirely from wood following in the steps of John Harrison, of which he had read much about and his grasshopper escapement. Having read an article in the Horological Journal from 1985 by Kenneth James he began his journey of building a prototype.  Having came across a clock using a paddle wheel for its motive power designed by Nicholas Radeloff, he experimented over the course of two to three years, however the balls had to be manually lifted to the top to restart the process.  Finally after a few more years and having seen a glass marble lift he finalised the development with the lifting arms and mechanism to the side of the clock.

Sold together with a binder and memory stick, showing pictures and notes of construction from prototype to finished clock.

CONDITION REPORT

The clock is in working order.  It will require to be set up carefully.  It’s not recommended to have the motor working non stop due to the build up of heat.