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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2017)
4 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Sisters craftsmen build solar system masterpieces For the past seven months Ed Beacham and his long- time friend Gary Lovegren have been steadily working on a project to commemorate the upcoming solar eclipse. Beacham, using his skills as a master clockmaker, worked alongside his friend of over 35 years as the two developed their own orreries. These complex structures, first produced in 1704, are mechanical models of the solar system used to illus- trate or predict the motions of the planets and moons. Each serves as a complex type of planetarium, which repre- sents the solar system, plan- etary alignment and Zodiac on any given day and year. “They can be used as a scientific instrument to go back in time when there was some kind of seismic event that impacted the Earth,” Beacham said. Over the past several months the team of two have created 12 units — each designed as a coffee table. Both Beacham and Lovegren designed, engineered and cre- ated each of the 5,000 unique handmade gears and levers as well as models of planets and their moons for each of the Sales & Service Of The World’s Finest Timepieces COME SEE OUR NEW ORRERY PHOTO BY ERIN BORLA Ed Beacham, right, and Gary Lovegren have made intricate and exquisite models of the solar system, known as orreries. — he has good energy and he learns fast.” “I loved learning how to run the mills and the lathes,” said Lovegren. “Writing the programs for making each gear — I’ve been a mechanic, so working with gears is T-SHIRTS $20 Correspondent 12 tables. Working on a plat- form similar to the workings of a clock — each unit uses articulated motion to repre- sent the moons surrounding Earth, Mars and Jupiter. Each planet and its accom- panying moons are hand- painted by Lovegren’s daugh- ter Rachel Feriend using NASA photographs as guides. All 12 of the units have the ability to be hand-cranked to a specific day, month and year which will then repre- sent the zodiac and planetary alignment of that date. The duo tried to make each orrery with as close a ratio as pos- sible although due to size and weight on the gears they are only aligned to Saturn. “These are representations of the solar system as Galileo would have understood it,” said Beacham. Beacham, known for his unique clockmaking at Beacham’s Clock Company on Hood Avenue in Sisters, has been making clocks for over 50 years. He made his first in his high school wood- shop. He is one of very few “complete master clockmak- ers” that can design and build an entire product. When asked what his favorite part of this unique project was, Beacham sim- ply said: “Working with Gary Sun Activated Color-Change By Erin Borla nothing new; creating them was new. “I love it here,” he said. “I hope to make a clock next.” All of the original 12 orre- ries are already sold, but they still remain at Beacham’s Clock Company as the duo finishes them. The public is welcome to stop in and view the work at any time when the shop is open. They will take orders for additional pieces. B e a c h a m ’s Clock Company is located at 300 W. Hood Ave. Custom-designed for this special event Eclipse T-Shirts & Stickers solareclipse oregon.org Buy at Sisters Cascade, 150 W. Cascade Ave. First Class in Service Service, Selection & Knowledge 151 W. Main Ave., Sisters | Open 7 days a week 541-549-FISH | www.flyfishersplace.com (A moving mechanical model of the solar system) Rare clocks from 1800s-present See clocks & watches being made Free tours Ed & Kathi Beacham 541-549-9971 | 300 W. Hood Ave., Sisters Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Closed Sun. Remember: Total Eclipse 8/21/17 in Central Oregon! End-of-Summer SALE! Now through September 4th Town Square • 541-549-5648 (Across from Sisters Saloon) Sisters Cascade 150 W. Cascade Ave. | Mountain High Coins in Bend
