Copper wire - yes, I like that idea. 1 rev per hour - really? Perhaps it is 24:1 big gear to the gears on the motors. I was guessing more like 40-50:1. But they are clock motors, so it makes sense that they are 1 rev per hour.
Geoff, please let me know if you can see the base rotating when you have it all together and exactly what is the position of the clamp.