A Classic Clock

 

Atmos Perpetual Clock-Le Coultre

Atmos Perpetual Clock

         The Swiss watch and clock industry is always looking to the market.  Currently, complications are a focus for high end buyers and makers.  Who wants to spend $25,000 or higher on a wristwatch?  More than enough of those with money to burn cherish a special piece of fine engineering that comes in the form of a multi-functioning time piece designed to be worn at the wrist.  In mid-century 1900's, post World War II, clock makers at Le Coultre company thought the market  was ready for an affordable mantle clock that was 1) very attractive to the observer, 2) was the color of gold(=expensive in appearance), 3) appealed to the upper economic strata of the population, 4) operated in a unique manner of engineering(a conversation piece!).

       The designers came up with the Atmos Perpetual clock.  A modern marvel, based on a very unusual mechanism: a system that was driven by a change in the weather, ie. a change in atmospheric barometric pressure.  Looking at the second picture above one sees A large drum to the rear of the clock works.  This drum houses the drive spring coil, a coil of metal that is about 25 mm in diameter and coiled about 5 times on itself and connects to a chain that connects to a drive wheel that connects to the hands on the face that connect with the drive wheel pendulum(not a pendulum) that rotates on itself.  Hmmmmm.  Yes, it's complicated.   A Google search or a Youtube search will yield a number of better explanations, but the essentials are here.

        basically, the coiled spring expands and contracts at a set rate, depending on atmospheric pressure changes.  This auto winds the drive chain and moves the hands, simply put.  It is ingenious.   The works are gold plated with 18k gold and a portion of the facets on the wheel are highly polished to give a lively appearance as it rotates, changing direction about every 30 seconds.  It is fascinating to watch, and makes an attractive addition to the decor of any room in which it is placed.  The Mayor has this attractive marvel in a room that gets lots of traffic.  It is always available for a good look.

        Are they rare?  No, they are found all over the world.  Hundreds of thousands were made and bought and sold in many affluent regions of the globe.   The trick is finding one that runs well as per design; and if not, finding someone who knows how to repair the main unit.  Not many of those capable craftsmen still around.   But there are some even in the USA.   Switzerland, of course.