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Harry
Christopher Arnold wrote:
Robin, Harry,
Clocks run by turning gears having force applied to the gear train, and if a gear starts skipping teeth from vibration, the clock will loose time or not operate as the only way to skip a tooth is if that tooth is missing. Vibration has nothing to do with the timekeeping ability of clocks or watches, unless it is from the vibration of the quartz timer, which is electronic and not effected by physical vibration.
Timepieces can be adjusted for temperature and pressure - which can effect the hairspring timing by changes in humidity. Also multiple positions can be adjusted for, but most old clocks on a wall were regulators, tripping the escapement with each repeating swing of the pendulum, and timing was controlled by raising or lowering the pendulum weight. I don't normally say things like this, but I find it highly unlikely that vibration was the factor (more likely impossible). If consistent vibration could lower or increase the speed of a clock, it would keep right on going requiring frequent resetting - whereby the pendulum would be adjusted until it kept acceptable time.
I believe there were just as many jokesters in the 1600's as there ever where (including here) - and many times a good bridge has been sold for scrap.
Best Regards (didn't mean to jump on you Robin)
Chris
