Swiss Inclined Plane Gravity clock

incline-plane-clock

A replica of a 17th century gravity clock, Arthur Imhof began making this model of the inclined plane clock in the late 1970s.

The white 2 Ā¾ -inch Roman dial is marked ‘Swiss’, with Breguet-style hands.

The inner mechanism and clock face are weighted to keep them vertical, while the outer rim rotates as the clock drum rolls down the tooled morocco leather covered plane. The slope is supported on a single brass pillar, the edge with a silvered brass strip marked with days of the week, and raised on brass ball feet.

The clock traverses the entire plane over the course of one week. At the end of the week, the clock is lifted and replaced at the top of the plane, preferably on a Sunday. No further winding is necessary.

The movement is cased in a gilded solid brass drum, with engine-turned rings to provide the necessary grip.

The drum movement is driven by a large counterweight, regulated by a lever platform escapement, the movement backplate being visible through the glazed back of the drum.

24 inchesĀ  (61cm) long.

Founded in 1924, The Arthur Imhof SA house in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland has made a specialty of this type of clock since the 1970’s.