Buzz
Wind-up alarm clocks have been a classic for ages, yet they continue to offer a fascinating experience. For a deeper dive into timepieces, refer to the article titled How Pendulum Clocks Work. Here's the clock we'll be examining today:
By taking off the winding knobs and removing the back cover, the clock’s inner workings are revealed:
After detaching the stand, alarm bells, hands, clock face, and mounting ring, you're left with just the clock’s mechanism.
This clock, like most table clocks and wristwatches, uses an oscillating wheel instead of a pendulum. The wheel and its spring rest at the bottom. In the image above, you can spot the clock's main spring on the upper right, while the spring on the left powers the alarm, which has its own gear train and escapement.
The image below shows the front view of the mechanism, where the hands are placed on the concentric shafts at the center.
A side view of the mechanism reveals how the various gears interlock with one another.
This image presents the oscillating wheel in the foreground, with the gears supplying power to it.
Though this clock might seem complex, it only has about twelve moving parts. Four gears connect the main spring to the escapement wheel, with the fourth gear’s shaft powering the second hand. The clock also includes the escapement wheel, the anchor, and the oscillating wheel with its spring. Additionally, there are four gears for the hour, minute, and alarm hands, plus two gears for the alarm hammer, one of which also serves as an escapement wheel.
