Leslie Dougal designed this clock that works on the Hipp principle. It was published in the Meccano Magazine for June 1969. A little later, Bert Love featured it in the clock chapter of Model Building in Meccano and Allied Constructional Sets.
This lovely little model captures the Hipp Clock rather well. When running, it ticks away, humming to itself when the pendulum decays sufficiently to switch on the electromagnet.
The push finger that advances the ratchet wheel was a problem until I found the right kind of wire. I found that the trimmed end of a g string from one of my guitars was just the ticket. It was stiff enough to retain the shape when set, but malleable enough to bend to the required shape.
It was a trial to set up and get running as there are some fiddly adjustments to be negotiated. For example, the exact shape of the dimple plate is a challenge. There is insufficient information in the Meccano Magazine article and the first circuit diagramin Bert Love's book isn't much help either. It actually shows an arrangement that will stop the clock dead with a solenoid switch that breaks contact where a "make" is required. It clearly contradicts the text, a second diagram and the photographs.
The model is built in French parts with Binns Road Elektrikit parts and met its demise when I plundered it for the coils to use in another project.
