A couple of months ago I was in an antique shop and in two places within the shop were metronomes. Both were in pretty rough shape and missing too many parts and one was not even working at all. That, and the prices were high. I continued my search for a metronome and I was confident I could find one.

What is a metronome? A metronome is a practice tool that produces a steady pulse (or beat) to help musicians play rhythms accurately. Some come with a bell. In music terms the bell is to keep track of the beginnings of measures.

Is a metronome necessary for clock repair? No, but I can think of some uses such as determining the BPM of a pendulum plus I have always been fascinated with them. It keeps a beat, has mechanical gearing and can be easily repaired by a clockmaker.

Recently I found another at a different shop at a price that cried: “take me”.

Continue reading “Not a clock but a fine mechanical timekeeper by Wittner” →