Behind the Scenes: Conservation of Jefferson's Great Clock

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Күн бұрын

The Great Clock is one of Monticello's most recognizable objects, and it has been seen by millions of people since it was first installed in the Entrance Hall in 1804.
Thanks to generous support from the Americana Foundation, we’ve been able to finish critically needed conservation on this iconic clock. Join us to learn more about this months-long project.

Пікірлер: 61

@craigreid7178 Жыл бұрын

I worked there in the '80s. One of my duties was to wind the clock on Sunday mornings. The cannon balls had been suspended on metal cables. One day when I was winding the clock the cable on the right broke sending the cannon balls falling through the hole in the floor down to the basement. There was no damage to the clock but this precipitated the decision to replace the wire cables with ropes as they were in Jefferson's time. The original ropes were made of hemp and since that was not an option at the time we made new ropes with linen.

@duaneadams5210 3 жыл бұрын

I visited this home in 1981 and watched this clock for some time and was fascinated by it. Thank You for making this video. It was very interesting.

@senatorlainez 3 жыл бұрын

Really glad Phil Collins is taking care of Mr. Jefferson's clock.

@PeterHonig. 3 жыл бұрын

I must confess that as a restorer of Renaissance clocks, collector of 17th and 18th century watches and former employee of Colonial Williamsburg where I was a clock and scientific instrument maker at the James Geddy shop, I found the use of incorrect horological terminology a bit frustrating. Namely, the movement IS THE CLOCK and the wooden outer part is the CASE. Not the other way around. Also the part of the clock that keeps time is called the HOUR TRAIN and the sound producing part is the STRIKE TRAIN. Lastly, it is my personal opinion that the original clock-maker was not particularly skilled in his design. Having to cut holes in the floor to accommodate the length of travel of the weights is not something to brag about. Also, if one of the cables were to break, the clock would suddenly be pulled sideways which could result in great damage. However, if the cables were to have exited at the bottom with a pulleys below that to direct the cable sideways, then the force would always be downward upon the support frame. But we cannot change history. Nevertheless, I am glad to see that the timepiece was faithfully restored/conserved, and appreciate that you folks shared a video about the process.

@allysonh6410 3 жыл бұрын

Uh I think several people in the video noted the poor quality of the clock And the possibility of great damage if something let go in it. That's prob incorrect terminology there but you get the point lol I appreciate them talking in terms I could fully understand. Hats off to your knowledge tho

@032319581 2 жыл бұрын

I saw the clock in 2005. I was surprised how primitive it appeared and wondered at the weights through the floor.

@richardjohnson4365 2 жыл бұрын

When will you restore the clock just inside the enterence door? Please do that as well....

@theotherohlourdespadua1131 2 жыл бұрын

I mean, even Thomas Jefferson himself is disappointed with the clock maker of this piece as said in a letter. Yes, he acceded to have the floor be cut to accommodate the extra length of rope but he did not appreciate the mistake...

@bruceandjosietrewin6214 Жыл бұрын

We call what you refer to as the 'hour train' the 'going train' (in England). I also thought that it was slightly crude. It looked like there was some recoil on the escapement. It would have been interesting to know whether or not it was a Graham deadbeat or a primitive more inaccurate recoil...or were the pallets just not set correctly.

@coreygrua3271 3 жыл бұрын

Love these new videos. They bring me right back to Monticello and the most interesting mastermind of a home and a country. Thank you.

@davestelling 2 жыл бұрын

Most enjoyable, thank you. Would love to have watched the movement's conservator work, step-by-step. As a collector of 19th c. Connecticut clocks, that would be a treat...

@daveduley 3 жыл бұрын

Can one buy a set of the detail drawings for the clock?

@ShawnsterVideos 3 жыл бұрын

My compliments to the operator of the bounce card during exterior shots ;-)

@elijahhodges4405 3 жыл бұрын

You have made me very happy with this restoration story.

@donnaterkildsen7211 3 жыл бұрын

just curious if the bong chimed all through the night too! How did anyone sleep? Fascinating video!

@mileswhitfield2290 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely wonderful educational and informative video, as are all your videos. One sound technical suggestion for future videos, please keep the background music low, as it can easily dominate the narration or speaker voice.

@allenpinnix5241 3 жыл бұрын

wonderful video--- saving a national treasure for sure

@davidkimmel4216 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful

@kevinxxx1387 3 жыл бұрын

I've been to Monticello only once; one of my goals this year to to visit again.

@kathrynludrick4821 3 жыл бұрын

Fascinating

@chevalvivant 2 жыл бұрын

Really enjoy these videos and the conservation of such an asset. The music in the background of the speakers is really unnecessary, and at times competing with them. Keep it simple

@jayVB 3 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this. Would love to know more about the striking mechanism, not clear how is works. Neat clock.

@PeterHonig. 3 жыл бұрын

Though I know little about the clock, I can see exactly how the strike works by looking at the video. If you look at the video image at 18:33 you can see a lever with a small ring pointing out the side of the clock to which is attached a wire that goes up to the cupola. During the strike sequence, the lever in the clock is pulled down toward the floor. Now if you go to the video image at 18:43, you can see the striking arm (i.e., hammer) located in the cupola which has a protruding lever with holes pointing toward the viewer. The wire from the clock below runs up to the cupola where it is attached to one of the holes in the protruding lever of the hammer, and as the lever from the clock below pulls down on the lever in the cupola, it produces tension due to the coil spring wrapped around the hammer arbor (located on the right end). When the strike train in the clock releases the lower lever, the tension in the wire is suddenly released, causing the hammer in the cupola to snap back and strike the bell (or gong as they like to call it).

@allysonh6410 3 жыл бұрын

@@PeterHonig. 😳🤯🤯🙌

@stevew9584 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@brianmungermusic1744 Жыл бұрын

Wow. That was great!!!!

@cps282 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and educational thank you

@richardroyster7100 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent

@jakehanifee8856 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this. Is there any video of the clock movement repair?

@robertgift Ай бұрын

Wonderful video! Thank you. Hope thathe tubenclosing the ball weights was removed. Sorry that Jefferson could not afford a tuned carillon bell rather than that dull gong.

@jefftreseder4358 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful clock, but I now have a mini-crush on Tabitha!

@cynthiapate9138 3 жыл бұрын

What about the outside face of the clock?

@danabondy2812 3 жыл бұрын

How accurate is the restored clock? Does it require adjustments?

@kerriecerny4813 3 жыл бұрын

What is the piece of music at the end? It's incredible

@boundboy1 3 жыл бұрын

I was wondering how it was wound back in the day. Did they keep a ladder handy?

@sortoftubular 3 жыл бұрын

You can see the folding ladder at 6:17 in the video.

@boundboy1 3 жыл бұрын

@@sortoftubular Thanks I missed that or didn't realize what it was when I saw it.

@allysonh6410 3 жыл бұрын

@@boundboy1 I didn't realize what it was either bcuz I had never seen a ladder like that. Pretty cool

@6271CT 7 ай бұрын

Whoever is in or made this video how long do you need to wind it up every day.😊

@TJMonticello 7 ай бұрын

We wind the clock on Sunday mornings, which resets the ball weights to start the week.

@rickyc3020 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, but music in the background the entire video. WHY?? That was a terrible ideal. Extremely disappointing for such a great video.

@RollaArtis 3 жыл бұрын

So....in 500 years time Jefferson's original clock mechanism will have worn away and been replaced with non Jefferson parts. Except for the cannon balls I guess.

@dianamorris5327 3 жыл бұрын

Do some math approx 200 years

@RollaArtis 3 жыл бұрын

@@dianamorris5327 Yes it's not tremendous quality

@bruceandjosietrewin6214 Жыл бұрын

@@dianamorris5327 He (or she) is referring to the future, not the past.

@SSmith-hh6cb 3 жыл бұрын

A slave is being a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey the owner. Enslave, or enslaved person is making someone a slave. Those words to the untrained eye may be used in a similar connotation. ... If the idea is using the word enslaved person over a slave. Just to be clear...

@pamsmith7369 3 ай бұрын

What they found ‘WAS’, not what they found, ‘WERE’. Please learn to modify our verbs properly.

@tomnorton8218 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with the comment that you are using "enslaved" .Stop it!!

@garyowen9044 Жыл бұрын

I’d love to visit, however I wouldn’t want to make a transatlantic flight, and get hammered with a USA PC woke lecture.

@woodbeastonyoutube9086 3 жыл бұрын

Hopefully our monuments will not be destroyed by Our new President

@seversonj 3 жыл бұрын

Please stop using the word "enslaved person". You are re-writing history. Just call them "slaves" or don't mention them at all. It makes your narrative offensive to use the word "enslaved".

@ednakelley814 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with you. Historic museums are under attack from the politically correct left. They claimed to be offended if one uses the term "slave" instead of "enslaved" Therefore, no matter what a museum does someone is going to be offended. I have noticed if a museum talks about slavery the left accuses them of "gloryfing slavery" and if a museum does not talk about slavery enough then they accuse them of "white washing slavery". The museums are racist if they do and racist if they don't.

@MalEvansUSA 3 жыл бұрын

Thomas Jefferson spent more time on his hobbies such as clocks and architecture rather than improving the living conditions of his enslaved humans

@ednakelley814 2 жыл бұрын

Mal is back with the virtue signaling. This is a video about a historic clock. This isn't the forum for your liberal spew. If you are trying to gather support for the abolition of slaves Mel, you're over 150 years too late. Plus, you continue to bark up the wrong tree. You always attack museum videos. Once again, historic museums are not guilty of slavery.

@piusx8317 2 жыл бұрын

And so he should. Rich people owned slaves, get over it

@032319581 2 жыл бұрын

I went in 2005.....wonderful experience! We had to go into the 'James Madison suite' because a tour group came in. We weren't allowed to go upstairs. I wanted to go to the grave sites. I can remember being colder than I can remember. I used to live in NH and VT. Went in February. Bundle up and wear long johns!