MINSTER GATES CLOCK UPDATE

Following the removal of the Minster Gates clock on the 26th February excellent progress has been made with the restoration as indicated by this update.

The restoration of the dials by Robert Loomes has been completed and the dials are ready for return to us, comparison of the two images below shows the great improvement associated with restoring the dials back to their original condition. 

Good progress has been made with the work to the drum.  The stripping down of the drum identified that the metalwork was in very poor condition as indicated in the photographs below.

The metalwork of the drum has now been restored by Sam Simpson.  The frame had to be reinforced by adding laser cut curved steel to the corroded angles.  Following that a new outer casing to the drum has been fabricated and fixed as shown below.

The formation of the curve on the steel casing to the drum required the use of a metal bending machine which gradually curves the metalwork to the required process, the video below shows Sam using the bending machine.

The drum metalwork has now gone to a specialist for electro plating prior to painting and then the clock will be reassembled and tested prior to refixing on the restored bracket.  We remain on target for the clock to be reinstated in July.

David Fotheringham