My journey into horology began over 20 years ago, and one of the most significant milestones in that time was building John Wilding’s Gearless Clock.
As a name well-known among hobby engineers and amateur clockmakers, John Wilding has published many books that make traditional clockmaking accessible to home workshops. His practical approach and clear writing have helped countless enthusiasts—myself included—take on projects we might otherwise never have attempted.
I first encountered John Wilding’s version of Dr. Philip Woodward’s Gearless Clock in a series published in Model Engineer. It was around 2004 or 2005 when I picked up the plans and began the build. At the time, I had almost no experience, very limited tooling, and very little idea how to get started. Despite my enthusiasm, the complexity of the design and my lack of knowledge meant I had to put the project on hold. It wasn’t until 2008, after gaining more experience and upgrading my workshop, that I returned to the clock and finally completed it.
What Makes John Wilding’s Gearless Clock Unique?
Unlike most traditional clocks, John Wilding’s Gearless Clock eliminates the need for a full gear train. Instead, the design is based on a beautifully clever system that controls time using minimal moving parts. Central to this is the pinwheel escapement, which advances just once per minute. The escapement mechanism uses a wheel with 60 pins around its circumference, and it’s released at precise intervals by a small pawl.
Every minute, a pivoted detent mechanism is triggered to release the escapement. This allows the pinwheel to advance one pin, which provides a gentle impulse to the pendulum. Because the pendulum is only touched once per minute, the energy input is minimal and evenly spaced, allowing it to swing freely the rest of the time. This contributes to the clock’s impressive stability.
This simple, elegant mechanism is a hallmark of Woodward’s original design—and John Wilding captured it faithfully in his book, making it achievable for hobbyists using basic tools.
The Daisy Motion – Simplicity Replacing Complexity
One of the cleverest features of John Wilding’s Gearless Clock is the motion work—particularly the so-called daisy wheel. Traditional clocks often use a series of reduction gears to drive the hour hand from the minute shaft. Here, that complexity is replaced by a cam and a daisy-shaped wheel with twelve petals.
Once every hour, the minute hand completes a full rotation, causing the cam to engage with the daisy wheel and advance it by one twelfth. This shifts the hour hand forward exactly one hour. It’s a beautifully simple solution to a problem that usually requires several gear wheels, and it adds to the minimalist ethos of this clock.
The moment I got the daisy motion working was one of those deeply satisfying milestones in the build—a proper “aha!” moment that reminded me why I love clockmaking.
The Challenges I Faced (and Still Face)
As with many horological projects—especially those tackled early in a builder’s experience—there were some frustrating moments. One of the persistent issues I had was with the weight-driven power system. The clock uses a cord and pulley system to suspend the driving weight, but I struggled with the cord slipping on the pulleys over months of use, which caused irregularities in the drive and sometimes brought the mechanism to a halt.
I tried different materials for the cord and varied the tension, but even now it’s something I’d like to revisit and perfect. It’s a reminder that even with a clear set of instructions (and John Wilding’s books are among the clearest out there), small details can make a big difference in performance.
Why This Clock Matters to Me
Completing this project wasn’t just about ticking a box—it was a turning point in my development as a clockmaker. John Wilding’s Gearless Clock challenged me in ways I hadn’t expected. It pushed me to learn new techniques, to be more precise in my work, and most of all, to think like an engineer. The design is fundamentally different from the “train of gears” most of us associate with mechanical clocks, and understanding how it all comes together deepened my appreciation for both John Wilding and Dr. Woodward’s genius.
I’ve since gone on to build other clocks, including John Wilding’s Tower Clock and a full restoration of a Congreve clock, but this gearless design still stands out. Not just because it works beautifully—but because of what it taught me along the way.
Resources That Helped
Back when I started this project, the internet wasn’t as rich in tutorials or forums as it is now. However, I found great support later on from the NAWCC forums, the Model-Engineer.co.uk community, and the MadModder forum—all of which are excellent places to learn from other enthusiasts..
Final Thoughts
If you’re a hobby engineer or someone interested in horology, I can’t recommend John Wilding’s Gearless Clock highly enough. It’s not an easy first project, but it’s a rewarding one that will teach you the principles of timekeeping in a very pure and elegant form.
For me, it was the clock that turned interest into obsession—and helped set me on the path I still follow today.
I built this clock back when mobile phone cameras were not as they are now! Sadly the quality is not as good as it could be and when I come to recondition this clock in the near future, I will update the videos and information.