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All-weather chain keeps Peeping Tom happy

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 24, 2005

Lady Godiva is now driven by a new motor, new control gear and all weather Tsubaki PC chain running on nylon sprockets.

Lady Godiva definitely existed.

She lived in the 11th century and was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia.

According to the story though, Lady Godiva persuaded her reluctant husband to reduce the tax burden on the people of Coventry by agreeing to ride naked through Coventry market place.

Her famous journey has been commemorated since the 1950s by a clock and a life size model that emerges from Broadgate House in Coventry city centre.

But when the mechanism finally wore out recently, the lady stopped appearing.

The contract to overhaul the famous timepiece was won by specialist clock repair company Smiths of Derby which is an expert in large, outdoor and ornamental clocks.

Kevin Litchfield, the Project Manager for Smiths commented: "We actually made the most expensive bid for this project, but our focus on quality and thorough engineering won through".

The repair recently completed, Lady Godiva is now driven by a new motor, new control gear and all weather Tsubaki PC chain running on nylon sprockets.

Litchfield adds: "We use Tsubaki PC chain on a lot of projects as the combination of engineered plastic and stainless steel means we can run it without lubrication and leave it exposed to the elements; it will operate reliably for long periods and requires no maintenance".

"The horse and rider in this instance are made of solid wood and actually weigh over 120kg, so the chain also had to have reasonable strength in order to handle the inertia and cope with frequent use without excessive wear".

New stainless steel rails, a PLC based control system and a new door opening mechanism have also been fitted to ensure timely appearances on the hour.

The door opening mechanism is also operated by Tsubaki PC chain.

Instead of speeding round as she used to, Lady Godiva now takes a more unhurried trip and stops in the middle both for Peeping Tom to get a good peep - and for onlookers to get a photograph of them both.

Coventry City Council, which commissioned the refurbishment, is said to be delighted with the result, as both tourists and locals have appreciated its sense of humour for over 50 years and this was the first overhaul the pair have had since they were installed in the 1950s.

The clock mechanism actually dates back to the 1850s but wasn't sent for maintenance as it is working well.

Tsubaki PC plastic engineered chain uses stainless steel side plates and pins for corrosion protection and strength where it is needed but is much lighter than standard chain thanks to the use of tough engineered plastic in the links and rollers.

Resistant to outdoor conditions, detergents and steam as well as food ingredients such oils and lactic acid, this product can provide an ideal solution for avoiding corrosion in a wide variety of machinery.

PC chain is available direct from Tsubaki and through national and local distribution partners.