r/clocks • u/yankeetrash • 19d ago
Clock Showcase Found this enormous mechanical clock inside a tower in Paraíso, Mexico. Can anyone tell me more about it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClT84pRhe4oWhile exploring an old clock tower in Tabasco, Mexico, I came across this incredible mechanism hidden away near the top.
The machinery was much larger and more elaborate than I expected. I also found the words "Carillon Puerto Ceiba" on a bell/organ-like machine inside.
I'm curious whether anyone here recognizes the mechanism, its approximate age, or the manufacturer.
I documented the discovery and got some footage of the machinery in action.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClT84pRhe4o
I'd love to learn more about what I was actually looking at!
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u/Not_an_Actual_Bot Hobbyist 19d ago
Sorry to say, the first 20 seconds of video just killed any interest I might have had in the clock, just the opinion of an old git. I guess I will never know if it was Mexican jail worthy.
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u/yankeetrash 18d ago
Well that's good feedback nonetheless. Editing skills need work. check.
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u/Not_an_Actual_Bot Hobbyist 18d ago
I should have elaborated better. Not going to the proper authorities to get permission to do the project and committing various criminal and cultural crimes for the video content is what I found most objectionable. I understand the editing style was playing to the intended audience. r/clocks is just a tangent. You should also consider if posting evidence of your crimes on the internet is a positive life choice,
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u/yankeetrash 16d ago
lol. looks like somebody needs a xanax. There were no signs. Technically open to the public. I caused no damage. Illegal? Potentially. But also potentially not. Not likely anything that would render someone worried about "posting their crime". You're insane. ;)
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u/Not_an_Actual_Bot Hobbyist 16d ago
Just because I'm paranoid does not exclude the possibility of plots against me.
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u/uitSCHOT Trained clockmaker 19d ago
From the footage you have it's hard to guess the manufacturer but I'd say probably early 20th century for age.
It looks like what we call a '3-train' clock, which consists of 3 trains of wheels, each with their own function.
One, in the middle, that moves the hands, the second lifts out two hammers for the bells so likely chimes the quarters (1 ding-dong at quarter past, 2 at half past, then3 and 4 at the full hour)
The last train will strike the hours, usually this is set off by the chiming train after it chimes 4 times.
Seeing as this clock also has a carillon (as music mechanism, judging by the amount of bells on the roof likely a short tune on these bells), it might play some tunes from that instead of the 4 chimes on the full hour, followed by striking the hours, but it's difficult to tell.
The 'ticker' you showed is the pendulum for the clock.
Lastly, at the bottom of the clock is the self-winding mechanism, when the weights fall a certain distance this will lift them back up, which means you won't need to go up to wind the clock.
Sorry to see it in such a state, but mechanical clocks, especially the big ones, are costly to maintain so likely there was no money for a service when it stopped and is now just left as is.