In the workshop today

[poprivet]

As well as caring for the XJ-S, I keep busy in my own workshop doing odds and ends. A while ago I found an old brass steam pressure gauge in an antique/curiosities shop which I bought.
Not being of much practical use I thought I would turn it into something more interesting.

Gauge as found

Back removed

Once completely stripped down I measured and bought a quartz clock mechanism and hands for £6 on eBay. These things are available in many spindle lengths and hand designs to suit all sorts of conversions.

Quartz mechanism & hands

(Continued, as only three pictures accepted)

[poprivet]

I had to drill out the centre hole and shorten the hands a bit, all the brass was cleaned and given a spray coat of lacquer to stop it varnishing. My normal brass cleaner is a paste of white wine vinegar and copper polishing powder, clock makers often use a magic substance called Horolene which makes a lovely job on delicate brass but is quite expensive for large items.

Quartz mechanism fitted

I cut a large hole in the steel backplate to make battery changing easier and a hanging hole

Access and hanging holes

The finished clock certainly makes people look, I chose a mechanism that sweeps the second hand rather then in jumps so it emulates a gauge better. Using the original scale does make for some interesting comments but I think that just adds to the interest. It is about 12" in diameter and very weighty.

Finished clock

[richardt@richardsel.plus.com]

I see it's nearly seven minutes past 120psi then?
No pressure to get it finished then (Boom, boom! I'm 'ere all week)

What a smart piece of work

I've been meaning to do a ships' radio room clock (face min 5" dia with the distress frequencies' silence periods marked on it 15-18 and 45 to 48 mins past in red; 30 - 33 and 00 to 03 mins past the hour in green). But all the clocks I've seen of the 50s and 60s have rusted innards. And I'm such a klutz when it comes to delicate work on clocks' inner workings like that

[ptjs1]

Nice piece of work! Looks great!

Paul