Bulle battery electro-mechanical pendulum clock

Significance

A pendulum clock that doesn't need winding, just its battery replaced each year. Reasonably accurate because of a pendulum when adjusted carefully. Uses the then-new electricity in the 1920s.

Super cute too! Shows the workings of the mechanism.

Description

Electro-mechanical. Battery powered, 1.5 V cell. Electromagnetic pulse to keep pendulum working. The coil is on the pendulum which moves in an arc over a rod that is permanently magnetised. The pulse is triggered so that opposite magnetic poles attract and like repel. The impulse is probably more gentle than that from a spring-escapement mechanism.

Glass case pendulum desirable to see mechanism working. Are expensive when restored.

Made in France 1920s - 1950s, approx 300,000 made.

Bought on eBay after another sniper shootout early in the morning, the item from Spain.

 My Belle clock, glass on all sides to show movement. Restored when bought.

The dial is in very good condition, although the clock is one of last made, maybe 1950s.

Pretty mechanism to pulse pendulum coil when in the correct place.

The wiring is not pretty. It should go through the brass tubes and needs replacing with cloth-covered wire.


The battery arrangement in the base. Some say the battery is best left unattached so that it stays on the mantle when the clock is lifted. This avoids the need to turn the clock upside down when changing the battery.



Try French eBay or other European eBay. A reasonable number around but depends on price.

https://www.aussieclocks.com.au/archive/bulle-clocks/    Technical detail on how the clocks work and how to fix them. Plus a bit of history.

http://www.nawcc-index.net/Articles/Smith-restore_bulle_section_01.pdf

http://www.horologix.com/restored_bulle_26443.pdf

http://www.horologix.com/index.html          -a specialist site for Belle and Eureka clocks



Brillié French electric clocks

Synchronome, Gents -English electric clocks

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 20, 2021 at 2:38 AM

    Thanks for sharing about Pendulum Clock. You Content is really informative us.......
    Pendulum Clock
    Pendulum Wall Clock

    ReplyDelete
  2. Burke DecorFebruary 1, 2022 at 1:38 AM

    This post is really useful and helpful to know more about clock.I appreciate you for such a great amount of information . I assure this would be beneficial for many people.
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