The Rolling Ball Web
An Online Compendium of Rolling Ball Sculptures, Clocks, Etc.
By David M. MacMillan et. al.

Rolling Ball Powered Clocks

1. Introduction
2. Caged Helix
1. Radeloff
3. Wheel
1. Maynard Bell
2. Frank Jensen
3. Haddon Craftsmen
4. Devon Clock Kits
5. Unidentified

Introduction

In most clocks, a more constant driving power results in better timekeeping. This was particularly true of early "verge and foliot" clocks, because the foliot oscillator, driven by the verge escapement, had no natural frequency (it was not a resonator) and was very susceptible to changes in its driving force. (For an illustration of this, see Michael Maltin's article "Some Notes on the Medieval Clock in Salisbury Cathedral" in Antiquarian Horology and the Proceedings of the Antiquarian Horological Society, Vol. 20, No. 5 (Spring 1993): 438-442.)

A weight, if consistently applied (e.g., applied without winding the rope twice around the driving drum, resulting in two different regimens of torque; see Maltin) can produce a very constant driving force. Early springs, however, could not. This proved to be a significant limitation for early small and portable clocks. The eventual solutions to this involved first the "stackfreed" and then the "fusee" to equalize the unequal pressure of the spring during its unwinding. In the end these devices gave way to improvements in springs themselves and in the way that springs were employed.

For a time in the early 17th century, however, it appeared that rolling balls might provide a good solution. A ball rolling down a vertical helix could drive a "cage" around that helix as it descended, providing rotary motion. (N.B., I belive that the reverse would also be possible, a stationary cage with a moving helix, but I don't know that such a clock was ever constructed.) Nicholas Radeloff, discussed below, made several such clocks.

Although rolling ball powered clocks are functionally quite different from rolling ball oscillator clocks, when they first appeared in the 17th century they were a part of the same inventive intellectual climate which was experimenting with rolling balls for a time standard.

In purpose, rolling ball powered clocks are actually very similar to rolling clocks, such as inclined plane clocks, and to other "gravity clocks." The history of these rolling clocks is discussed briefly on another page on this site devoted to Rolling Clocks.

Caged Helix

Radeloff

In The Clockwork Universe, Maurice and Mayr illustrate a table clock by Nikolaus Radeloff, Schleswig, 1652 (No. 60, p. 232). The distinguishing feature of this clock is that it is powered by balls. The balls are confined to a rotating cage and descend along a vertically oriented helix. As they descend, they cause their confining cage to rotate, thus driving the train. This is the reverse of most ball mechanisms: instead of the mechanism moving the ball, the ball moves the mechanism.

Maurice and Mayr cite two other clocks by Radeloff which use this device, one presently (1980) in the Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen (Inventory No. 1256) and one presently (1980) in a private collection in Vienna. They also note that this second clock is mentionied in Maurice's Die deutsche Räderuhr, Fig. 658.

The literature cited for this clock is:

Gemessene Zeit. Uhren in der Kulturgeschichte Shleswig-Holstein. Ausstellung Schloss Gottorf 1975. [I think there is an error in the italicization of the original citation here.] p. 96.

Maurice, Klaus. Die Deutsche Räderuhr, Vol. II, Fig 657.

Brusa, Giuseppe. L'arte dell'orologeria in Europa. Milan, 1978, Figs 280, 281.

Lloyd (35) has an entry for "Ball Drive" clocks which cites Professor [Hans von] Bertele's Uhren. von Bertele claims that only three such clocks survive, all by Radeloff. Lloyd says that von Bertele gives the location of one as Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen, of another as the National Museum in Copenhagen, and of the third in his [von Bertele's] own collection. All three clocks are said to have cross-beat escapements. The clock in Prof. von Bertele's collection is illustrated in two views, one showing the clock in general and one focussing on the rolling ball drive (p. 35, figures 66, 67).

Smith (293-294) has an entry for Radeloff. Smith notes that beyond the use of rolling balls for power, Radeloff improved the cross-beat escapement, previously introduced by Jost Burgi, by giving it very long arms which flexed and absorbed shock (Smith does not explain why this is a good thing). Smith dates the example at the Nationalmuseet, Copenhagen, as 1654. He presents two illustrations of this clock, one of which gives a general view with the ball drive visible and the other of which shows Radeloff's signature.

The entry in Smith was written by "EJJ," who does not appear in the list of contributors. Perhaps "EJT" - E.J. Tyler - was meant, as he wrote the "Rolling-ball clock" entry.

Wheel

Maynard Bell

The Museum of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) in Columbia, Pennsylvania, posesses a unique rolling ball clock made by Maynard Bell, NAWCC member no. 946. The museum placard for this clock dates it to 1969. In a brief note by Bell in the NAWCC Bulletin, Whole No. 151, pages 1121-1122, Bell noted that he started this clock in 1960, abandoned its construction for a period of time, resumed its contruction around 1969, and finished the clock in October 1970. He estimated his construction time as 1,500 hours.

This clock is also cited briefly in the NAWCC Bulletin, Whole No. 191, page 577. Thanks to Donn Lathrop for this reference.

Thanks to Fortunat F. Mueller-Maerki, webmaster of Horology - The Index for bringing this clock to my attention.

Maynard Bell's obituary appeared in the NAWCC Bulletin, Vol. XXI, No. 5, Whole No. 191, (October 1979): 572-573, "In Memoriam: Maynard E. Bell," written by Thad Moore. He died in his sleep on July 15, 1979 at the age of 80. This article shows a photo of Maynard Bell in his shop, and discusses his life and work. It also makes passing reference to a "double rolling ball clock" that he had been planning at the time of his death.

Bell's life and work were also discussed in Joseph E. Martines' article "Contemporary Clockmaking: An Overview" in the NAWCC Bulletin Vol. XIX, No. 6, Whole No. 191 (December 1977), pages 573 and 577. A photo on page 578 shows Bell with his orrery clock. This article notes that Bell was born in Wayne, MI on June 29, 1899 and that he worked as a tool and die maker.

Another photograph of Bell appears in the NAWCC Bulletin, Vol. XV, No. 11, Whole No. 165 (August 1973), page 1214. This photo depicts Bell at the 1973 NAWCC national convention, with an orrery clock of his construction.

Frank Jensen

Silvio Bedini, in his article "Perpetuum Mobile" (86-87) illustrates a wheel-type rolling ball powered clock in the Museum of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Columbia, PA (described in the article as the "Museum of Horological Antiquities of [NAWCC Secretary] Earl T. Strickler"). In this clock 32 balls are lifted, in groups of eight, up by a chain conveyor. They then roll along a zigzag track which appears to have no function other than to give the balls a place to roll. They proceed to the top of a driving wheel, where they travel down its periphery, powering the clock mechanism. Bedini reports that NAWCC Bulletin editor Earl T. Strickler says that a Mr. Frank Jensen of New York owns a similar clock and that "simpler models are being made today in Vienna."

Haddon Craftsmen

This photo of a rolling ball powered clock made by The Haddon Craftsmen appears the courtesy of

Ray Bates, MBHI, Pres.
THE BRITISH CLOCKMAKER,^® INC.
http://www.thebritishclockmaker.com/
Specialists in antique clock,
marine chronometer, and automata
restoration and sales.
P.O.Box 102, 250 West Street
Newfane, Vermont 05345
Tel. 802 365 7770. Fax 802 365 4294

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Devon Clock Kits

Devon Clock Kits (aka Devon Clocks Limited) in the UK sells a rolling ball powered clock in kit form. This kit is available in three levels of finish: "Basic" (requiring hand finishing, such as filing, sandpapering, and polishing), "Prepared" (requiring assembly and testing), and "Complete (assembled and tested). This is their Kit No. 5, the "Falling Ball" or "Spherical Weight" clock. It is 12" high, 8" deep, and 10" wide. In 1996, according to their literature, this kit cost UKP 445 for the Basic version, UKP 545 for the Prepared version, and UKP 695 Complete. In this clock, the balls which exit the wheel simply roll into a tray in the clock base; they must be returned manually to the top of the clock. This clock employs 24 balls, of which 6 or 7 (it isn't entirely clear from the photo) are in action at any one time.

Devon Clocks Limited
Albion Works
Albion Hill
Exmouth
Devon  EX8 1JS
UK
Tel: (0395) 263943

Unidentified

The following photograph of a rolling ball powered clock employing balls along the periphery of a wheel appears through the courtesy of Keith Anderson.

Legal Matters

The photographs appearing through the courtesy of Ray Bates and of Keith Anderson are copyright by them. With the exception of any material noted as being in the public domain, all other text, images, and encoding of this document are copyright © 1996-1998, 2000 by David M. MacMillan.

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Version 1.6, 2000/04/04. Feedback to web@lemur.com
http://www.database.com/~lemur/rbc-power.html

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