Day No.140 – The last month

May 9, 2014 By Brittany Nicole Cox in Estate, Workshop Tags: 6mm lorch lathe, accutron, antiques, automata, Breguet, brown and sharpe scale, Bulova, centering scope, Clockmaking, clockmaking tools, collectibles, conservation, copper stove, demagnetizer, Dennis Harmon, diamond lap, estate sale, George Daniels, horology, lab glass, le locle, patek philippe, raw gem sapphire, restoration, scientific scales, swiss tools, technology, W and LE Gurley surveyors instrument, w m sharp, Watchmaking, watchmaking tools, wood watch cabinets, woodworking 2 Comments

Those of you who filled out the question form on the Harmon Estate Sale page, your questions have been answered and posted there.

Hello all! This has been quite a journey. The sale is coming up so soon – just a month away now! I think back to when I started this project and it seemed like it could last forever. It’s amazing that it’s almost through. I do hope meet many of you at the sale. Everything in the shop has to go! The sale is over a five-day period with the contents discounted each day. Readers are welcome to use the comment section below to post inquiries about sharing transportation or accommodation.

This collection is unbelievable – seeing it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s been some time since I have posted shop photos – so for your viewing pleasure:

Another epic demagnetizer from Bulova

The book selection is now organized and priced. We’ve got some rare and amazing things. Books on automata, Patek Philippe, books by Daniels, service manuals for machines and watches, parts catalogues, literature on tool manufactories and woodworking tool catalogues, and more….

We have a huge selection of gem quality raw sapphire – sold in varying sized bottles. The diamond lap table that is itself a standard is really something too. It comes with extra diamond wheels in a wood cabinet. We also have a large selection of lapping accessories.

Sale Announcement!

April 5, 2014 By Brittany Nicole Cox in Estate, Workshop Tags: antiques, automata, blacksmithing tools, Bulova, casting, clock tools, Clockmaking, clockmaking tools, clocks, clockwork, collectibles, conservation, dark room equipment, Dennis Harmon, engraving, estate sale, film cartridges, gear cutters, horology, industrial furniture, industrial lighting, Jewelers tools, kilns, large format cameras, large format film, machinists tools, metalworking tools, micrometers, milling machine, pantograph machine, polaroid, radio tubes, rare light bulbs, restoration, Schaublin, soldering supplies, technology, vintage electrical equipment, watch crystals, watchmakers lathe, watchmakers lathes, Watchmaking, watchmaking tools, welding, woodworking, woodworking tools 6 Comments

KEEP AN EYE ON THE HARMON ESTATE SALE PAGE – AS THAT IS THE OFFICIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION PAGE ON THE SALE. IT WILL BE REGULARLY UPDATED WITH A LIST OF CONTENTS AND THE SALE INFORMATION, ETC.

Day No.87 – Bibelots and more

March 17, 2014 By Brittany Nicole Cox in Estate, Workshop Tags: antique micro-projector, antiques, antiquorum catalogue, bonhams catalogue, Bulova, christies catalogue, Clockmaking, clockmaking tools, collectibles, conservation, crystal grinding, Dennis Harmon, estate sale, horology, industrial furniture, industrial lighting, J G Hall staking set, micrometers, optical glass cutting, portable transformer, precision ground stock, restoration, rolls royce, rosin, Safag pinion cutter, sotheby's catalogue, swartchild, technology, vintage electrical, vintage optical equipment, volt meters, W and LE Gurley surveyors compass, watch crystal making, Watchmaking, watchmaking tools, wood planes, woodworking 8 Comments

More curious things in the basement: a large jar of saffron, used for gilding as it was done in the Middle Ages, and rocks of rosin, obtained from conifers and used for glass polishing among other applications… Dennis was certainly a renaissance man.

Here are some photos of items newly arranged.

Complete staking set by J G Hall

Complete surveyors compass by W & LE Gurley

Rocks of rosin

Single printing plate for Rolls Royce car clocks

Single transfer-printing plate for vintage Rolls-Royce automobiles

Crystal Grinder by Swartchild

Crystal grinding & polishing

Safag pinion cutter

Optical equipment, meters, laboratory lights

Antique micro-projector

Precision ground stock

Woodworking tools

More volt meters

Collection of auction catalogues by Sotherbys, Christies, Bonhams, and Antiquorum

Collection of auction catalogues by Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, and Antiquorum

Day No.7 – Now that’s a demagnetizer !

December 27, 2013 By Brittany Nicole Cox in Estate, Workshop Tags: antique spirit levels, antiques, brittany cox, clock tools, Clockmaking, clockmaking tools, clocks, clockwork, collectibles, demagnetizer, Dennis Harmon, engine turning, estate sale, Nico cox, restoration, Schaublin, technology, transmission drive, vintage microscope, watch tools, watchmakers lathe, Watchmaking, watchmaking tools, Wittig Demagnetizer, woodworking 4 Comments

Boettger and Wittig Demagnetizer

The watch is placed inside

Patent US699863

To use, a watch is placed inside of the core; the slide is then moved in and out to change the polarity of the magnet, as described in patent number 699863:

The slide and comb thereon constitute a pole changer, and in practice the same is actuated to cause frequent reverses of the direction of current that goes through the electromagnet. A magnetized watch, tool, or other device is placed in the hollow core of the electromagnet… the pole changer is operated to effect its function… the result being demagnetization of said device.

Oddly enough, or maybe not oddly at all given the circumstances, Dennis had a collection of demagnetizers. This was my by far my favorite though.

Here are some other goodies from today’s work:

Gorgeously golden aged lacquer on an antique microscope

Pocket meter with original leather case

A sample of the level collection

Lovely little drill press

Extra Schaublin 102 headstock

Engine turned background

Watchmakers lathe transmission drives

The Fox and the Sea

April 8, 2013 By Brittany Nicole Cox in Automata Tags: automata, Automaton Fox, automaton ship, Automaton Toys, brittany cox, Nico cox, The Fox and the Sea, woodworking 2 Comments

It was late at night in the West Dean workshop when I decided to make a little toy automaton for my husband Thomas for Christmas one year.

From the top

As we both love foxes and I was literally an ocean away, I decided to make a little fox on a boat at sea.

As you turn the handle the waves go up and down and the ship rocks to and fro.

A central arbor with eccentric brass discs controls the motion of the waves and boat.

Fox and ship automaton clockmaking watchmaking nico cox brittany cox hugo

From the front

After whittling them from wood, the waves were stained with oil paint and the fox painted with acrylics. The ship was from a jumble sale. When I acquired it, the masts were broken and hull damaged. After some repairs the ship was back in sailing order.

Nico Cox Brittany Cox toy automaton automata fox and ship

From the back

Once assembled, I found the waves were a bit heavy and required counter weights. These were made from brass cylinders soldered to pins fixed to the waves. After adding the filed taper pin to secure the arbor to the box wood frame, I gave the handle a little turn and was pleased.

The Fox and the Sea

As the finishing touch I added a little gold tassel curtain in front.

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Memoria Technica

Horological Conservation and Bespoke Services. Based in Seattle, Washington.

Tag Archives: woodworking

Day No.140 – The last month

Sale Announcement!

KEEP AN EYE ON THE HARMON ESTATE SALE PAGE – AS THAT IS THE OFFICIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION PAGE ON THE SALE. IT WILL BE REGULARLY UPDATED WITH A LIST OF CONTENTS AND THE SALE INFORMATION, ETC.

Day No.87 – Bibelots and more

Day No.7 – Now that’s a demagnetizer !

The Fox and the Sea