The NAWCC Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mr. Rory McEvoy has been named Executive Director of the NAWCC. Rory is an internationally renowned horological scholar and comes to the NAWCC with strong credentials that solidly align with our education, fundraising, and membership growth objectives. He has a postgraduate degree in the conservation and restoration of antique clocks from West Dean College, and throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to handle some of the world’s most important horological artifacts, including longitude timekeepers by Harrison, Kendall, and Mudge.
Rory formerly worked as Curator of Horology at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, where his role included day-to-day management of research and digitization projects, writing, public speaking, conservation, convening conferences, exhibition work, and development of acquisition/disposal and collection care policies. In addition, he has worked as a horological specialist at Bonhams in London, where he cataloged and handled many rare timepieces and built important relationships with collectors, buyers, and sellers. Most recently, Rory has used his talents to share his love of horology at the university level by teaching horological theory, history, and the practical repair and making of clocks and watches at Birmingham City University.
Rory is a British citizen and currently resides in the UK. Pre-COVID-19, Rory and his wife, Kaai, visited HQ in Columbia, Pennsylvania, where they met with staff, spent time in the Museum and Library & Research Center, and toured the area. Rory and Kaai will be relocating to the area as soon as the immigration challenges and travel restrictions due to COVID-19 permit.
Some of you may already be familiar with Rory as he is also a well-known author and lecturer. His recent publications include the book Harrison Decoded: Towards a Perfect Pendulum Clock, which he edited with Jonathan Betts, and the article “George Graham and the Orrery” in the journal Nuncius.
Until Rory’s relocation to the United States is complete, he will be working closely with an on-boarding team assembled by the NAWCC Board of Directors to introduce him to the opportunities and challenges before us and to ensure a smooth transition. Rory will be participating in strategic and financial planning immediately, which will allow him to hit the ground running when he arrives in Columbia
You can read more about Rory McEvoy and this exciting announcement in the upcoming March/April issue of the Watch & Clock Bulletin.
Please join the entire Board and staff in welcoming Rory to the NAWCC community.
I can take apart the movement. What is involved in restaking the wheel and pinion?
Here’s the wheel-pinion-arbor assembly. The pinion-arbor turn as one; they rotate freely where they join the wheel. It looks to me that the pinion is flanged to grip the point at which it attaches to the wheel. The ‘star-pattern’ showing on the flat side of the wheel appears to be the splines of the pinion. The pinion-arbor does not freely separate from the wheel. I’m guessing that the ends of the pinion are grooved to fit the opening in the wheel.
The pinion and the arbor are secure to one another. It is the wheel that turns freely about the arbor & pinion, but without the wheel separating from the assembly. Is it worthwhile to try forcing separation before attempting to refasten the wheel?
My inhouse level dealing with this problem is J-B Weld packed into the splines of the pinion, on both sides of the wheel, and secured to the wheel (staying well clear of interfering with the splines interfacing with the barrel teeth). Comments?
Let me make sure I understand your recommendation. I secure the wheel-pinion-arbor assembly in a bench vice with the flat face of the wheel up. Then using a hammer and a small punch I tap each of the spline ends to splay each end out to grip the wheel. I’m worried that my ‘punch taps’ might not be enough to withstand the high torque exerted by the tightened spring.
A hollow punch did the trick. The punch slipped just over the spindle with the edge of the punch resting on all splines simultaneously. A couple of taps expanded all splines to grip the wheel. Thanks for the help.Yes, that's the idea. When the wheel is tight, it will be as it was coming out of the factory. That's how they assembled it
It will be your first experience in staking wheels.
Here's the finished restoration. Serial number indicates June 1899. Clock was in a mostly disassembled state when found in a thrift store dumpster by a friend. Luckly all pieces/parts were in the case and luckier still the friend remembered that clock repair was a hobby of mine.That lesson will serve you well in coming years.
