...Totally agree with cordon's post info....I adjust my clock's pendulum length even when we have a real humidity change....One must if you want to keep it on "good" time keeping ability.
Quentin
I think "regulator" originally referred to the adjustable pendulum. In the days of mechanical clocks there were many more clocks with fixed pendulums than adjustable ones. Fixed pendulums are less expensive and one couldn't easily adjust their speed if it was not right. The owner could adjust or "regulate" the speed of the more expensive and better built clock with a "regulator" by adjusting the knurled knob at the bottom of the pendulum. I think the clockmakers put the word on the clock where the pendulum was located and included a glass window making the adjustable pendulum visible to call attention to the higher quality pendulum inside.
It appears that the collectibles community has made the word more generic. It seems now to mean the entire clock (that has an adjustable pendulum).
I think it would be incorrect if anyone called a fixed-pendulum clock a "regulator."
...Precision Regulators are very accurate clocks. Guess some were {are}, accurate to tenths of a second a day.
"Regulator" type clocks used in schools, railroad depots, offices of 60 - 100 years ago are capable of keeping "good" time but not to the accuracy of such clocks mentioned just above. These types of regulator clocks did not have compensated pendulums, etc...which contribute to extreme accuracy.
I can regulate my clocks to run within perhaps 20 sec. or so in a 3 day period....But climate change does require Pendulum {length}, adjustment to keep them {as much as possible}, really accurate.
Regulator is a term for a precision time piece know for their accuracy.
Brands and styles vary.
...Correct...."Regulator" is a generic clock name....A verical shaped clock cabinet, with the "face at the top", sometimes octagon shape around the clock face and the lower elongated part with a window showing the pendulum swinging as the clock is running.
I have 3 of them {all in running order and 2 on display}, and they are of different brands.
One of my units supposedly did hang in a railroad depot....possibly upstairs in an office...back in Pennsylvania. That was 2nd hand info to me, so I'm not sure. I do have a picture of the one in that depot waiting room back mid way into the 20th century and mine is not that one....One of them...{the one with the octagon trim around it's face, a Waterbury unit...is ticking right now in this home office as I type this.
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