- Harrison, Erika. “Roulettes in Spherical Geometry.”
These antique machines are absolutely stunning in their complexity, patina, and operation. The engineering involved in creating such a tool is mind boggling. Most are directly hand or foot powered with a gear reduction system similar to what milling and lathe equipment still use today.
After seeing the video below, I almost want to move to France for a year and ghost some old watch makers.
Listen for the sounds that emanate as the machinist operates it’s controls. And at the 4:20 minute mark: the spinning plates that act as cams, pushing the cutting bit away from the brass piece creating the surface patterns.
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