Swiss Lever Escapement Course

 Week 30

As the students of the Fullskill and Technician course went on holiday, the benches were used by the students of the summer escapement course, a one week intensive course to learn as much as possible about the Swiss lever escapement and how to repair and adjust them, both modern and vintage movements were used to practice on.

The students using the scope mode to see the effects of the escapement faults.

Dog Days of Summer

  Week 28

Summer break is fast approaching! Time to hit any last-minute milestones before heading off on vacation.

 

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Workshop A

Students:
    Art, Bernd, Cesar, Joan, Louis Lu, Mun, Nine

     Bernd made preparations for turning a series of pivot gauges, making graver handles and fitting material blanks in lathe dogs (brass collars used to spin the workpiece when turning between center pivots).

 

 

Louis Lu restored his own Jacot Tool, this week by making a new bow complete with knurling on the handle. 

 

 

Workshop B

Students:
    Christiaan, Craig, Gary, Philippe, Sense

    

Christiaan, Gary, and Philippe began practice on the milling machine, allowing them to make large complicated shapes without hours of tedious filing.

Gary demonstrating how to square the milling head

Gary also finished his balance bridge support, showcasing a very clean frosted finish.

 

Craig dipped his toe into alchemy (electroplating), experimenting with different heat, voltage, and timing parameters to achieve a clean gold plating finish with consistency.

Higher voltage for shorter time (left) and lower voltage for longer time (right)

Thank you for reading!

Should we be concerned about what Craig is plotting?

Hope to see you again next week

History

 Week 27

This week, the school took a trip to the Internation Museum of Horology followed by a trip to CENIC Watches to stock up on tools and supplies. The museum recently acquired a variety of new pieces, including a special exhibit on the history of hairsprings.

Hairsprings made of glass!

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Workshop B

Students:
    Christiaan, Craig, Gary, Philippe, Sense

    

It's time for the lathe! Christiaan, Gary, and Philippe learned how to use this fundamental piece of machinery, critical to so many aspects of watchmaking.

Learning how to cut screws

Craig passed the notoriously difficult Escapement Exam, leaving only one more exam before the Final...

Thank you for reading!

...hello, Nine

Hope to see you again next week!