Horstmann Newbridge Mechanical Time Switch

May 20 2010

Horstmann Newbridge Mechanical Time Switch

Category: Horstmann Newbridge Clock — Mark Lawton @ 10:13 PM

This is about a timer, an “old timer”. Not a person, but the Horstmann Newbridge gas valve time switch, sometimes seen as the “AUNI” clockwork street gas lamp controller. It is a totally mechanical timer needing a wind-up every 7 or 14 days depending upon the mechanism type used, which is probably by year of manugacture.

A guess on the manufacturing dates would be from the 1940′s to the 1960′s, but Horstmann may be able to tell you if you contact them here. (http://www.horstmann.co.uk/)

The example picture lower down shows the “round object”, which is the clock to turn the lamp on and off. A small pilot light keeps the lamp ready to ignite when it turns on at its assigned time. The lamp will turn off when the “off” actuating arm closes the valve at it’s selected set off time.

I used to help on the repair of these between 1988 and 1992 when I worked at “Heating Control Services” In Walsall, West Midlands.

We used to collect 30-40 of these from the Gas Board in Canning town, London, and refurbish them and return them.

I think the repair would retail at around £50.00 plus to clean and repair the mechanical workings, set up the escapement spring accurately, and check the time was being kept correctly by regulating the hair spring length with the plus and minus adjustment.

Horstmann Gas Lamp

We would also grit blast, and respray the casing that housed the clocks. Note in the example above that the casing is a bluish colour; this may well be one that we repaired in the past.

Upon reassembly, we would check that they would open and close the main burner valve.

It wasn’t “rocket science” to repair these, but you need to have an accumulation of spares, and a good mechanical knowledge to repair them, as well as the clock bath and oil. Lots of patience and a steady hand also help!

The clocks were cleaned in 3 stages, clean, rinse and lubricate. The correct clock cleaner and oils are required, because the mechanisms would gum up quickly and seize up if the wrong oils are used.

Horstmann are an old company, and quoting below there is some history from them…

“1915 Newbridge Works was opened.
The property was owned by various members of the family – the block containing the Conference Room and Board Room consists of 2 houses once occupied by members of the Horstmann family.
The site covers about 4’/2 acres.

1914 Horstmann started making screw and limit gauges for military production, becoming a leading UK Gauge manufacturer until the business was sold in 1990.

1905 56, Walcot Street was acquired for gas controller manufacture.

1904 The Solar Dial was patented.
This was the first dial which automatically altered ‘ON’ & ‘OFF’ times each day to follow the varying times of dusk and dawn through the year. It gave Horstmann a worldwide technical lead.

Foundation of The Horstmann Gear Company Ltd. Sidney Horstmann (Gustav’s youngest son) designed an ingenious gear box for cars and motor cycles. It had an infinitely variable gear ratio – using expanding pinions. Sidney, together with his brothers Albert, Hermann, Otto, and brother-in-law William Edgar, amongst others, founded The Horstmann Gear Company Limited to exploit it. Both the ‘shop’ and the new company were now at 10, Union Street. The gearbox was not a success, but Sidney went on to make cars in his own business, also in Bath, producing about 1500 Horstmann Cars between 1913 and 1929, incorporating many novel features in them. Altogether about 10 still exist.

The gas controllers were now so popular, production was transferred from G Horstmann & Sons to The Horstmann Gear Company Ltd.

1902 The birth of Horstmann’s Control Business. G Horstmann & Sons had now developed into a thriving retail and clock making business. They developed a clockwork gas controller for automatic control of street-lighting – which was far superior to anything else – for a Mr W T Ellery of the Bath Gas and Coke Company.

1893 Gustav died. By this time he had about 100 patents to his name.

1866 Gustav Horstmann designed a self-winding clock and was granted a patent on his invention for “ A New or Improved Mode of Obtaining Motive Power, which Power can be used for Winding Clocks, Timepieces and other Mechanism, and also for Ventilating Hot-houses, Green-houses, and all Buildings where a Uniform Temperature is desirable.”

1856 Gustav Horstmann invented the first micrometer to measure 1/10,000th of an inch reliably. The original is in the Science Museum, South Kensington.

1854 Gustav Horstmann set up a clock making and retailing business (later G. Horstmann and Sons) in Bennet Street, Bath. He was a prolific inventor, and apart from his horological skills, a pioneer in measurement and thermostatic control.

1853 Gustav Horstmann who was born 1828 in Westphalia, Germany, and studied in Paris under Dejean (a watchmaker from the school of the famous Breguet), emigrated to England.
He was the founder of the Horstmann family in Bath.”

The full article can be found here…

http://www.horstmann.co.uk/history.php

I enclose some pictures showing the clock that I bought as a memento from eBay for just £5.00!

And yes, it does work! I have the key, and the complete clock.

Enjoy…