BULLE LOSING TIME

[proconsul]

Hello,
I have a Bulle clock which loses about one hour a day. I think it may be due to the way "wires" are connected. Please bear with me; I don't have the correct terms. There is a wire that goes from somewhere near the escapement down to near the pendulum which does not look like the spring on my other Bulle (see fig. 1). Also there is a wire up top near the escapement which looks kind of home made too (see fig. 2). I have adjusted the pendulum as much as I can without it scraping the bar. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks to all.
http://www.deadzoom.com/uploads/UP420855.jpg
http://www.deadzoom.com/uploads/UP420856.jpg

Stephen E Marsh

[proconsul]

Hello,
I have a Bulle clock which loses about one hour a day. I think it may be due to the way "wires" are connected. Please bear with me; I don't have the correct terms. There is a wire that goes from somewhere near the escapement down to near the pendulum which does not look like the spring on my other Bulle (see fig. 1). Also there is a wire up top near the escapement which looks kind of home made too (see fig. 2). I have adjusted the pendulum as much as I can without it scraping the bar. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks to all.
http://www.deadzoom.com/uploads/UP420855.jpg
http://www.deadzoom.com/uploads/UP420856.jpg

Stephen E Marsh

[Ray Fanchamps]

You are missing two springs. The first image is a contact spring, part of the circuit to the fork.
More importantly (since the clock is running) you are missing the ISOCHRONAL spring.
There are several maladies to make your clock difficult to regulate but until you replace the wire with the correct springs you will not get the clock to regulate regardless of other "problems".
The missing ISOCHRONAL spring does have the potential to speed up your clock though that is not directly it's function.
http://www.clocknut.com/nawcc/bullecon.jpg
http://www.clocknut.com/nawcc/bulleiso.jpg

Ray Fanchamps
Candidate for Director NAWCC 2003.
It's your NAWCC, please vote.

[proconsul]

Thanks for the reply Ray. Do you (or anybody else, for that fact) know where I can get the appropriate springs?

Stephen E Marsh

[Ray Fanchamps]

Sorry, I don't have them or a place to get them. They are always missing these parts and spares are like rocking horse droppings.
One day when I get a chance I will try making some along with Eureka switches and contact pins ,balance wheel springs and long list of other hard to find parts.................

Ray Fanchamps
Candidate for Director NAWCC 2003.
It's your NAWCC, please vote.

[Sherm]

AtT; Ray Fanchamps

[Sherm]

Att; Ray Fanchamps

Re; your post regarding springs for Bulle clocks
I have found a company in CA that can make up Isochronal spring for these clocks. They would be made from 316 SS and would cusom made to our specs.

What do you think about using 316 SS for the springs, and could you furnish me with the wire size ,OD. length and wether it is wound with pre-tension or spaced windings.

My email is swolf369@aol,com

Thanks

[Ray Fanchamps]

Hi Sherm,
I have not done much experimenting with manufacturing these springs. Thus far I have been able to get by with parts purchased over many years. There have been repair notes made on making the spring, I will see if I can find them. The spring has a sensitive role in the timekeeping of these clocks. I will see what I can dig up.

Ray Fanchamps
Candidate for Director NAWCC 2003.
It's your NAWCC, please vote.

[Steve B]

I've found the diameter of the contact and isochronism springs to be .005" and have ordered silver spring material from the UK but it came in .999 silver. Nice stuff but it won't hold the spring shape. I believe the silver is alloyed with another material which allows the contact spring to maintain its springiness. There's 100 meter minimum and at this point I'm not willing to invest more on an experiment. If anyone knows the exact composition of these springs (contact and isochronism) I'd be willing to try again.

Stevev

[rodarte3]

Hi all
I have made the springs successfully by harvesting balance wheel swings and rewinding them to the required diameter. They have been running well for some time now and the clocks keep excellent time.

[Sherm]

Michel, Iwould appreciate a copy of the Bulle spring specifications.
I think there are a few people who would appreciate this information,so please post it on this site.

Sherm

[ged]

HI, I have a book on Bulle clocks, I bought it in 1998 from Rita Shenton, book seller. It was translated from the original French in 1995. you can make contact at, www.shentonbooks.demon.co.uk (http://www.shentonbooks.demon.co.uk)
It is great for fault finding, and if your into Bulle clocks you should have one. I might add I have no connection with this seller. Regards, GED.

Learner