The Finished Gift Clock From Clo

This little "Sweetie" is a true heirloom made for Jim's daughter, as a very special gift!

I started my first wooden clock from the plans of the "Thomas" clock over twenty years ago. The plans were given to me by a work associate who told me to, "Have fun working on this for a change." Well, work on it I did. . . It was shown at the 1983 Comal County Fair, taking 1st place and Grand Champ. note: No real experience with wood working - just learning. I'll run it down and send some pictures to you if you are interested. There is a sad story associated with it, but that's another tale with a happy ending.

Anyway, I needed a special gift to give to my daughter for her 30th birthday this past April. I am very proud of my daughter and her personal accomplishments by dedicated years of hard work. I wanted to provide a very special gift for my daughter. The only thing I could think about was to try to find the "Thomas" clock plans again. That's when I found the web site with your "Gift Clock" Plans. I will admit that my woodworking experience is now at a slightly higher level, and this is what I gave my daughter on her birthday (pictures attached). I hope I did your plans justice. I did modify and change a couple of things which will make this clock definitely a one-of-a-kind. A little was done on the lathe, such as the pulleys and line spool, to make single parts instead of putting multiple parts together. (All shafts are hand-made dowels and the all gears/pinions, spacers, hands, etc. were cut out individually on the scroll saw as were a few other items - about 90% of the clock parts were hand cut on the scroll saw.)

My ability of working Texas Mesquite has been getting better over the past twenty years. I chose solid Mesquite as the base wood for the gears, the face, middle divisions, back, pulleys, pendulum and a couple other items. Other woods include: Walnut (pinions, Hr. ,min., sec. hands, wall mount arm support, re-wind handle, hooks, and weight cover).... So. Texas Ebony (taper pins, shafts including weight and re-wind, Roman numerals, hour # locators, and frames plus some other places)...Maple (pendulum shaft, and all other white accent wood throughout the clock just for the contrast in colors).... and maybe a tiny bit of Osage Orange.

Keeps very accurate time. I may add: the pendulum weight slides on the shaft which takes care of the time adjustment. My daughter's clock is driven for 27 hrs. with approx. 9lbs of weight. Total cost of materials... less than $20.00 ... Total value when I gave her the finished clock................ PRICELESS!!!

p.s. If anyone wants to accomplish something in their life time, I suggest they take the time to make time happen for someone else with a "gift" clock from scratch.

And a big 'ol, Texas "Thank you" to you, too, Jim Morgan! I hope you have inspired others to enjoy the pleasures of woodworking as we do! I can only guess how delighted your daughter was in getting the clock you hand-made, out of love, just for her, on her 30th birthday!