Instead of a single pendulum, one could use the desk toy with hanging, aligned, metal balls that swing back and forth in seeming perpetual motion. The balls would swing from metal arms instead of wires so that the clock’s weight or spring via the escapement could give the two outer balls a nudge on each swing. Each outer ball would have its own half escapement with one tooth to engage and release the common gear.

This wall or grandfather clock would not only be a marvel to watch, but its “tick-tock-tick-tock” would be complemented with a “click-clack-click-clack”.
-- FarmerJohn, Sep 28 2002

(??) swinging balls http://www.hcc.hawa...m/momsbal.html#sbal
[FarmerJohn, Sep 28 2002]

how pendulum clocks work http://www.howstuffworks.com/clock.htm
[FarmerJohn, Sep 28 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004]

sketch http://www.geocitie.../swingingballs.html
[FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

...swinging balls, and a pendelum. I think this type of c(l)ock would only tell one time.
-- senatorjam, Sep 28 2002


tick-click-tock-clack-tick-click-tock-clack...

FJ, you really need to get a position in R&D with a novel clock making company.
-- waugsqueke, Sep 28 2002


That's Newton's Cradle to you.
-- DrCurry, Sep 30 2002


Even if a means were included to both regulate the clock and add energy to the swinging balls, they would probably be too imprecise for good timekeeping.

On the other hand, it might not be too hard to add a device to a digital clock that would keep the clack-clack going at a certain precise rate (e.g. once per second, in time with the advancing second hand).
-- supercat, Sep 30 2002



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