Hermle Ship's Clock Quartz Mechanical Bell c1970s

Significance

A rather rare, but probably not very valuable, Hermle Ship's Clock with a quartz movement and a mechanical bell, c1970s. In the 1970s many manufacturers moved from mechanical movements to quartz battery mechanisms following the general trend in the clock industry. In this case, the movement is quartz but the bell mechanical, operated by a small electric motor, for an authentic bell sound. Subsequent quartz movements have a loudspeaker and recorded bell sound as digital electronics improved. However, being a traditional ship's clock case, the older style eight-day mechanical movements proved resilient and popular, with sales continuing to the present day. Relatively few clocks with this mechanism were produced as it is a transitory development.

Discussion

Fairly large and heavy: 175 x 100 mm. Wall mount or on detachable mantle mount. The current cost of new key-wound clocks: ~US$800, Quartz-speaker: ~$500. Mine from eBay USA.

Strike sequence: Four-hour ship's watch cycle.
12:00 DD DD DD DD
12:30 D
1:00 DD
1:30 DD D
2:00 DD DD
2:30 DD DD D
3:00 DD DD DD
3:30 DD DD DD D
4:00 DD DD DD DD


The mechanism for bell driven by a small DC electric motor. The lever to disengage bell.



The circuit board for the quartz oscillator and gears to drive hands and ?? for the bell.







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