A question, if I may...

Oct 21, 2006,11:11 AM
 

Hi Suitbert,

I shall shamelessly take advantage of you while you're in one of your wonderful mega-informative moods

How many problems with a classic columnwheel chronograph could be solved by overcoming some of the underlying issues of the "control mechamism" - for want of a better word?

Reading Lecoultre's descriptions makes me think of some kind of insane circus act.

The first problem is that one complex surface (the column itself) has to partly control the phasing of the operating (by the slope of the edges), plus to a certain extent control the forces involved by the depth the feelers move under spring pressure. The column surfaces have to be identical for the operation to always be the same.

The actual phasing of the various operations is controlled by the relative positioning of the feelers on the column. Change in the profile of the feelers alters the phasing of the operations.

Has anyone ever attempted to produce a different way of doing it apart from the obvious 7750-type solutions?

For example, I've always wondered if the column wheel could be in layers, with a separate layer for each feeler that would allow their phase and depthing to be adjusted relative to the others.

nick

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Continuous vs. Running Minute Counter Chronos

 
 By: jkingston : October 18th, 2006-03:15
Well John and I got into it a few days ago about whether continuous running minute counters on chronographs represent a simplified solution when compared to jumping minute counters (and here I am using the term to mean chrono minute counters that move as ... 

is that an Appeal to Authority I hear?

 
 By: ei8htohms : October 19th, 2006-04:16
Hi Jeff, First off, I'm not sure we were discussing "whether continuous running minute counters on chronographs represent a simplified solution when compared to jumping minute counters". Wait, let me step back. First off, I'm not sure why you insist on in... 

Reasons For The Vertical Clutch

 
 By: jkingston : October 19th, 2006-08:20
There are a number of reasons to choose a vertical clutch design. First I am not going to dissect the original Seiko design. I am working on that task separately. However, there are several performance reasons to go with the vertical clutch design. 1. The... 

Precisely!

 
 By: J.Chong : October 20th, 2006-04:04
A vertical clutch has functional/performance merit. The fact that it is "a simpler way to manufacture a chronograph" (as John mentioned above) is an additional bonus. The key here is that something that is simpler to manufacture isn't always worse (as ill... 

John, I agree with you. To me, simpler is better...

 
 By: Ling Hua Keong : October 20th, 2006-07:19
Dr. Ludwig just needs 9 parts to achieve annual calendar function. I think it is a major breakthrough. It is much much cheaper and easier to build. However, it is certainly not inferior to other annual calendar watches which have higher standard of finish... 

The THEORY behind your comments are well noted (and known) with thanks. But...

 
 By: ThomasM : October 20th, 2006-09:09
Hi, Jeff, I've long been fascinated (and obssessed by) the often wide chasm between theory and practice; between how things are supposed to work and how they actually work. I'll let Suitbert, John, and others with bench experience and watchmaking schoolin... 

a few comments

 
 By: ei8htohms : October 20th, 2006-04:16
Hi Thomas, You raise some interesting questions and certainly a lot of food for thought. I'll take a stab at one or two at least. 1.) Regarding the pointy tooth problem in traditional chronographs, I personally don't have the experience to know how much o... 

Some examples.....

 
 By: SuitbertW : October 20th, 2006-06:06
just to illustrate some more "traditional" continuously running minute counter designs. More "classic" is hardly possible, I think - Gourdain stop watch/clock from the middle of 17 hundreds, 60 sec and 10 minute counter: Vacheron & Constantin grand comp, ...  

A question, if I may...

 
 By: nickd : October 21st, 2006-11:11
Hi Suitbert, I shall shamelessly take advantage of you while you're in one of your wonderful mega-informative moods How many problems with a classic columnwheel chronograph could be solved by overcoming some of the underlying issues of the "control mecham... 

A big thank you to all participants of this thread ...

 
 By: Gazman : October 23rd, 2006-04:16
I have learnt leaps and bounds in this one thread than in any other horological fora on the Internet. Thank you all for your stimulating and thought provoking points and counter points. ThomasM's discussion on theory vs. reality was particularly interesti...