by crusty_bint » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:00 pm
The clock mechanism is completely automated dating from only 1993. The disused mechanism of 1963, which replaced one installed in 1816, is still in situ in the tower also. It currently (and this is a guess from what I can gather from photos and drawings) contains three large bells and 2 racks each containing 3 or 4 smaller bells, although originally would have contained a few more (judging by Robert Paul's view from SE c.1760). I'm not sure how often it chimes, I'd imagine it would be quite regular tho.
Incidently the first mention of the Tolbooth (demolished, rebuilt and demolished again) and Steeple is in a deed of 1454 witnessed in the pretorium of Glasgow, although the first mention of a clock is from 1574 when payment was recorded for "the upsettin of a clock".
Hope this helps.
here i go, it's coming for me through the trees