An engineer goes to the museum... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rich
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 03:27:35 pm
content: Ouch! Rule #1 do not touch the exhibits unless encouraged to do so.I went to YouTube to see if the description/comments stated what clock it was and all I found was comments from racist bigots about the assumed nationality of the visitorAnyhow, for those interested in the maker then google shows the clock is modern and made by artist James Borden (http://www.timeshapes.com/index.php). I guess that means it can be sensibly repaired by the original maker and still be authentic.The original publisher of the above video is from the The National Watch & Clock Museum (https://www.youtube.com/user/nawccnwcm)

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 03:44:49 pm
content: Quote from: rich on June 03, 2016, 03:27:35 pmPossibly it has more artistic value in its current form, especially if this video goes viral.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 03:55:03 pm
content: Most engineers respect 'do not touch' policies as they don't want their own stuff messed with. I know more than one who will inspect complex stuff they haven't been invited to handle, up close, from varied angles and with great attention to detail, but with their hands clasped behind their back to remind themselves to refrain from 'gefingerpoken'. Therefore my first suspicion is that the person who dropped the clock is a village idiot grade inveterate meddler, not an engineer.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 04:01:11 pm
content: "Priceless" was in theDaily Mailheadline. According to here:http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/james-borden-does-not-just-build-clocks-he-creates-sculptures-that-tell-time-180950390/?no-ist"He makes about 10 to 15 clocks a year, and sells them for prices ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 dollars a piece."This is less interesting than a cat video.

author: klunkerbus
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 04:12:31 pm
content: I'm not defending the guy, but the museum should have known better. An item with a handle to pull etc. should have been behind glass to protect it unless touch was invited, or should have at least been mounted more securely. Mount it securely as a theft deterrent if nothing else.

author: rich
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 04:58:55 pm
content: Strangely it's not the initial pull of the visitor that parted it from the wall, it was the force of the free-falling weight hitting the end of its tether, rapidly decelerating and thus ripping the clock from the wall (1m 02s).It's not clear to me why the weight began its rapid decent, but I think it's fair to say it wouldn't have happened without the visitor's meddling.

author: XynxNet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 08:26:49 pm
content: It's unfortunate it fell from the wall, but the guy seemed in a refreshing child like way fascinated by the clock.I would gift him one, if i where the maker of these clocks.Im sure this incident creates lots of attention for james bordons beautiful clocks.

author: R_Gtx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2016, 09:34:51 pm
content: Quote from: rich on June 03, 2016, 04:58:55 pmThe falling weight is clearly the driving weight, by the appearance of this weight being pulled over the pulley he is seemingly overwinding the clock*, at 1:02 the winding barrel ratchet fails and the weight begins it descent.*Technically this kinematic sculpture is actually a timepiece, it does not strike the hours.

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2016, 01:56:33 am
content: Badly engineered clock disguised as piece of art. World is amazing, someone please make a giant nuclear bomb and destroy it

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2016, 02:37:15 am
content: Quote from: klunkerbus on June 03, 2016, 04:12:31 pmUnfortunately I'm inclined to agree.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2016, 09:52:08 am
content: A decade or so ago I visited a museum in eastern Hungary and behind a rope and a 'Do Not Touch' sign was an old wild west telegraph set. I looked at the three controls, threw the switches and them demonstrated to my girlfriend how they sent messages. A member of staff quickly approached but the first words out of her mouth (translated) were "you know how to work this instrument?" Apparently it had been sitting there for years and nobody knew how to connect it up or operate it.Well, I was glad to help and we got a free meal at the museum cafe as payment.

author: Jasper
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2016, 03:54:18 pm
content: Quote from: XynxNet on June 03, 2016, 08:26:49 pmYes, I'm sure a mildly viral video is going to help him sell hundreds of $10.000 handmade, unique, artsy clocks. He can just hire a few interns to assemble them.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2016, 04:38:00 pm
content: It's just a wooden clock. Doesn't seem like anything too complex or low-tolerance, and anyone with some basic woodworking skills could probably fix it. The design was the hard part, gluing pieces back together isn't....and upon watching the video carefully in slow-motion, it doesn't appear anything actually got broken and it didn't even "fall and smash" as a lot of people are saying. When it dismounted he caught it, and the hands just fell off because they probably weren't even attached originally.

author: rich
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2016, 02:16:13 pm
content: Quote from: R_Gtx on June 03, 2016, 09:34:51 pmI learnt something here todayDoes this distinction hold true for digital timepieces/clocks too?

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2016, 03:13:15 pm
content: The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH in their Illustrated Professional Dictionary of Horology dont make that distinction in their definition of'clock'Quote

author: R_Gtx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2016, 04:59:14 pm
content: Quote from: Ian.M on June 06, 2016, 03:13:15 pmWatch and learn.

author: starphot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 04:58:31 am
content: The Chamberlin Observatory, Denver, CO where my astronomy club is based did a renovation. The dome was once turned by hand but long ago was replaced my a motor. The socket for the turning wheel is still on the wall and we got a replacement wheel for decoration only, a nice wooden ship's wheel. We were about to put it on and decided not as we had experience with the public, especially unruly kids, handling things not supervised. Even though it will not mechanically control anything, we decided that any liability of kids or teenagers hanging on or trying to turn the wheel was not worth it. I visited the mechanical engineer responsible of the recent renovation of the 24" refractor at Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff, AZ a couple of weeks ago. We both agree that you make the replacement parts 'bomb proof' or don't put them on at all. Both observatories have heavy public outreach schedules.Joe

author: J.Xerneas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 02:16:15 am
content: Quote from: klunkerbus on June 03, 2016, 04:12:31 pmThe museum isn't at fought. Well, maybe they are. After all, they expected someone to have self control, follow rules and not pull on the clock. Definitely not the guy's fought at all.