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Watchmaking by Hand-Power – C&M Group Open Days
26 October 2023
28-29th October 2023, Upton Hall.
See and try antique watchmaking tools driven by hand-power.
For centuries watchmakers built high-precision instruments without having electrical tools or lighting. Come and discover the secrets of their craft, and try your hand at these watchmaking tools from the collection of the Museum of Timekeeping at this special open day.
One method that will be demonstrated was a speciality of Lancashire makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: a basic lathe built out of three horseshoe nails – using this apparently crude system, a watchmaker can turn a high-precision balance staff. Other tools that will be demonstrated are the antique watchmaker’s Turns, the clockmaker’s Throw, and a modern Swiss hand-powered watchmaker’s lathe.
The three horseshoe nail lathe
Main image: Justin Koullapis
Three horseshoe nail lathe image: Yarek Baranik
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