Latest Checkmate Arts Prototype
The purpose of this prototype project was to develop/demonstrate a powerful/reliable clock movement for very large clocks (22 inches and larger). It is a portable demonstration only. Please contact if you are interested in custom metal art clock of any size.  A clear plastic cover on the electronics makes it easy to show how this works without disassembly. This hybrid electronic/mechanical clock movement makes it easy to maintain a very large/heavy clock high up on a wall. For example, a clock for a church, mall, sports complex, large home, etc. A clock built around this electronic/mechanical movement can be maintained and configured remotely over WIFI (smartphone). That includes configuration of custom lighting and the chimes played by the on-board MP3 player (load custom sounds on the microSD card). The mechanism auto-calibrates the mechanical clock hands every 12 hours and the time will auto-correct after a power outage. The clock movement always has the correct time because it can obtain the time from the internet over WIFI. This design incorporates a rechargeable battery or it can use AC power. The clock in the following picture was donated to a local community center but there is another one coming that will be "better, stronger, fas..."... well at least better...

Please contact about custom clocks up to 4 ft or more. [NOTE: If you want to learn how to assemble your own custom clock there is a video you can watch here (youtu.be/t3cIgj6jLqE).] The clock movement in the prototype and its coming siblings includes a controller board that will be used in many upcoming projects and associated tutorials. Links to the articles are found in the Control Board Project Overview.

Direct link to One of a Kind section in the Etsy store for special one-only prototypes and "happy accidents"​...

Dear Customer,

The purchase price of the things we sell should be considered a donation that comes with an actual useful Item. The donation funds the ability to keep posting "how to" articles, inventing/creating and offsets the associated costs.

As a benefit to the maker community, we will be publishing more "how to" articles and posting free to use designs for those interested persons who want to learn and make things themselves. [PLEASE leave comments questions suggestions on social media (Facebook, YouTube). It isn't possible to improve without knowing what works and even more important... what doesn't.]
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We are updating Checkmate Arts. A major change has been the removal of all of the high end clocks from the online store on Etsy. The clocks that were removed are available as a custom order. We prefer that you contact us through  Etsy  conversation if you are interested in a custom order.

This change is due to re-emphasizing the purpose of Checkmate Arts. Checkmate Arts is first and foremost about Art and Engineering and the intersection of those. It isn't primarily about being a for-profit business. We and our customers are all about having fun and celebrating creativity. Please always be kind to everyone and remember that Art is super hard work for most people that try and has very little reward except the joy of making something with your own hands and putting a smile on someones face.

Trying to make some items into a product has been a distraction that has caused a deviation from the original plan and purpose we had. Moving forward we will be making high end creative projects that nobody else is making. Whether anybody wants to buy them or not does not matter. But, they will be one-of-a-kind items that will be listed on jimstoys.com. The Etsy store will remain also but the focus is shifted more to custom work and fewer products.

Below this note you will see some of the things we are working on.  This will change from time to time. Please stop in for a visit on Facebook or YouTube. We would like to hear from you. There are many more posts on social media that do not appear here.

Thank you very much for your continued support.

- Jim