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Clockwork
The chimes returned at Trinity Episcopal Church in Williamsport after Jim Zerfing, the church clock's longtime caretaker, and students from Pennsylvania College of Technology climbed 100 feet up the clock tower's narrow stairs to replace parts that had fallen into disrepair. Under the direction of Zerfing and Keith H. English, instructor of machine tool technology/automated manufacturing, students enrolled in manufacturing-related majors remade the gear shafts that hold the minute hand on each of the 135-year-old clock's four dials, made a duplicate bevel gear and helped to install a new motor.
Built in 1875, the Trinity Episcopal Church in Williamsport remains a symbol of the city's history. An example of 19th-century Gothic architecture, the building was funded by historic Williamsport figure Peter Herdic. Architect Eber Culver designed the 218-foot spire to make it the tallest edifice in Williamsport. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
The mild-steel gear shafts, which protrude from the end of the clock part shown on the left and hold the clock’s minute hands in place, became warped; with no replacement parts available for the 135-year-old pieces and the clock’s manufacturer long-since out of business, the parts had to be manufactured. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
The clock’s original bevel gear is used for setting the time on the clock. The part still works as accurately as it did the day the clock was assembled in 1875. Because it is installed several stories up in Trinity Episcopal Church’s clock tower, students created a duplicate to be placed on the ground floor, easing the task of setting the time. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
Machine-tool technology student Matthew C. Eldridge measures a stainless-steel gear shaft to be placed in the clock tower at Williamsport’s Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
Manufacturing engineering technology student Patrick Tomaszewski, of Swoyersville, spent a good portion of his eight-week Fixture Design and Fabrication course on the challenging bevel gear – accounting for multiple angles and clockwork accuracy. “It’s painstaking,” he said. Photo by Jennifer A. Cline
Manufacturing engineering technology student Craig M. Thomas, of Absecon, N.J., reattaches the hands onto one of the clock’s four dials. The 9-foot-diameter faces are about 100 feet above ground level. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
Patrick Tomaszewski, of Swoyersville, reattaches the clock’s mechanism inside the clock tower. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
Manufacturing engineering technology student Timothy D. McMorrow, of Doylestown, works with the clock’s longtime caretaker, Jim Zerfing, to synchronize the four clock dials. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
Keith H. English, instructor of machine tool technology/automated manufacturing, left, and clock caretaker Jim Zerfing connect the clock’s dial with the central clockworks. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
The clockworks, housed in the second story of Trinity Episcopal Church’s clock tower. The church and clock were donated by Peter Herdic, an illustrious figure in Williamsport’s history. Photo by Larry D. Kauffman
