Dials and hands
08.10.10
Equally , as the shell, its shape and decorative elements can be a good guide in determining the origin and age of the clock and dials and hands can give a collector of valuable information about the data clock. The first mechanical clocks had only one hour hand and the rough German or Italian ( Old Bohemian ) dial , 12 -hour or 24-hour scale. In the Renaissance single-needle hours prevailed engraved Roman numerals . In case clock with square brass dial , we often meet with the scale engraved in the brass ring attached to a non-circular Dial plate .
The visible part of the Dial plate around the ring decorated with engraved ornaments or cast brass relief applications , located primarily in the corners of the dial . This type of dial almost prevailed before the XVIII century . when it was gradually replaced by enamel dial .
By about 1780 became fashionable lacquered iron dials . We often find them at cheap fully iron wall clock with pictures of birds, with curly biblical motifs , etc. Painted dials were also some outdoor wall clock . Size dials gradually increased . Around 1725 added to the square Dial plate shield in the form of a round segment which is gradually increased to a semicircle. In the shield watchmakers invested , in addition to the ornamental elements, different scales to activate and deactivate the mechanism of battle, to select the songs playing mechanism , calendar , and various astronomical dials or shaped elements automaton mechanism .
Ring- dial , attached to the main Dial plate , already found in some Renaissance hours , but almost always it is a British lamp hours . These dials under the Roman numerals found engraved narrow scale , divided in 48 parts , dividing the interval of every hour for four equal parts . In Roman scales used , as a rule , for the fourth hour symbol IIII, rather than IV. The reason was, apparently, something that looks more aesthetically IIII .
With a pendulum clock came into timekeeping increased accuracy of time measurement , and with that came and the minute hand on the dial. For this special arrow made and the minute scale , located on the outer circumference of the old time scale . To indicate the five-minute intervals on this scale at first were just Arabic numerals, which have smaller dials were for reasons of economy of space directly part of the scale , and have great hours of vygravirovyvali or painted over the time scale .
In hours of the second half of XVIII century. minute numbers were sometimes so large that the size they hardly differed from the time digits . I painted dials and the clock provincial masters minute scale is sometimes simplified to 60 points , applied directly to the clockwise direction.
The clock the second half of XVIII century. increasingly began to meet the third , second hand, and the clock with seconds pendulum and anchor drain this arrow was worn directly on the elongated shaft trigger wheel . This also caused her eccentric position at the top or bottom of the dial . Older seconds dials have the designation 10, 20 , 30 … 60, and later, on the contrary, 15, 20 , 45, 60.
Interesting changes in the shape of arrows. In single-needle clockwise to put on a four-sided clock tree , and to facilitate the turning of their hand , they were at the opposite end of the elongated spout or support for the finger .
In the second half of XVIII century. when the clock began to meet more often can type silver or silver dials , watchmakers began to make the hour and minute hands of the same shape but differ in magnitude. Unlike the former, only the steel arrows are now cut the arrow from forged brass sheet . From the original complex form of arrows watchmakers later returned again to the simple arrows , which also caught on most watches .
Several unusual dial had standing or wall pendulum clock with a descent Gragama that are produced from the beginning of XVIII century. until the end of XIX century . They were intended for the observatory , and for different industries , operating with a precise time, and, finally , for large watch making , where on them to monitor and regulate all new or refurbished watches.
The main central dial scale regulatory clock was a big minute scale with Arabic numerals 5, 10 , 15 and 60 , meaning five-minute intervals. In the central square of the indices were small seconds and time scale . Rather than watch the dial some of these clocks have a digital dial in the form of a circular disk located behind the window in the Dial plate .
Around the middle of the XVIII century. came the first watch with a central second hand . Most unbalanced second hand on a vertical dial very adversely affect the accuracy of the clock , but because Watchmakers soon changed its shape so that it does not turn . slowed and accelerated the progress of the mechanism. This issue has also arisen from the tower clock , whose hands were balanced with the addition of material to elongate the opposite shoulder or through special cargo suspended beneath the dial on the lever connected to the hour and minute shafts.
Tags: Dial plate, mechanical clocks, minute shafts, non-circular Dial plate, stronomical dials, the minute scale