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Horological Meandering

Yes, Sonnerie en passant requires two barrels. exactly as you noted.

 

Hi, Andrew,

The two lower barrels are wound by the gear in the center (three gears at the top in the picture) - the crown winds bi-directionally, one way for the timekeeping, the other for the sonnerie.

I have heard of some attempts to run the sonnerie off the main timekeeing barrel, but that is very impractical/dangerous.  More than two? I haven't heard of any.

In Grande mode, the AP and the Dufour give about 8-11 hours (remember, there are an awful number of strikes during this period, as each quarter it needs to strike the hour, and the twin tones of the quarter x the quarter.) And of course, striking the repeater on demand depletes the sonnerie power reserve even more. I suggest winding every 6 hours or so; inevitably, the sonnerie is completely wound down by the late afternoon (assuming one winds in the morning) - just in time to be asked to demonstrate the repeater on demand, and get nothing...

 

;-)

It's a wonderful specialty area.

Cheers,

TM

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13 Comments view entire thread 

Minute Repeaters

 
By: mobeme : October 13th, 2007-02:12
Can someone pls tell me the difference between a Minute Repeater and a Grande Sonnerie? Is it that a GS automatically chimes every quarter? Many thanks G.

A repeater (minute/quarter/5 minute/etc) must be activated

 
By: ThomasM : October 13th, 2007-02:47
for every "strike" session. It also has it's "power" charged with every activation, so it does not need its own separate "power train." Thus, when a slide is slid, or plunger pushed, it "charges" the repeater spring and the time is "chimed" out. Typically...  

Thanks for the very clear overview ...

 
By: AndrewD : October 13th, 2007-04:09
Dear Thomas, So does that mean that the Sonnerie en Passant must have at least 2 barrels, one for the escapement and one for the sonnerie? Do they ever have more? It probably varies dramatically between watches and whether they are in the Grand or Petit m... 

Yes, Sonnerie en passant requires two barrels. exactly as you noted.

 
By: ThomasM : October 13th, 2007-12:58
Hi, Andrew, The two lower barrels are wound by the gear in the center (three gears at the top in the picture) - the crown winds bi-directionally, one way for the timekeeping, the other for the sonnerie. I have heard of some attempts to run the sonnerie of...  

FP Journe's Sonnerie has only one barrel...

 
By: JGV : October 14th, 2007-06:27
Hi Thomas, I'm almost afraid to correct you on this topic, but the FP Journe Sonnerie uses one barrel only. Luckily I have a purists article to back me up http://www.thepurists.net/Patrons/members/ian_s/journesonsouv/sonsouv2.htm Regards, Joram

Thomas...

 
By: mobeme : October 14th, 2007-16:32
Thomas, may I ask two more things : - what reference is the AP you have in the picture you posted? It's absolutely superlative. Discontinued I presume? - I read somewhere that the IWC Porto MRs don't have the hammers exposed on the back of the movement. D... 

GS's

 
By: mobeme : October 13th, 2007-09:30
Thomas Many thanks indeed for your great explanation - very helpful. From this I infer that Sonneries are signficantly more more complicated/expensive than Repeaters. Who are the main producers of GSs? I know of AP and FPJ. If I'm not mistaken PP only mak... 

Sonneries are an order of magnitude more complex than simple repeaters.

 
By: ThomasM : October 13th, 2007-13:03
Hi, G, Keeping in mind that expense and complication are not necessarily tied to each other (why would a Simplicity time only be more expensive than most perpetuals? Why would a 3970 chronograph perpetual be more expensive than some mint sonneries?) but y...