The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

M. _KAMMERER'S ELECTRIC CLOCKS.

An opportunity was afforded by his worship the
mayor, yesterday, at noon, to M. Kammerer, the ieie
tor and patentee of an electric clock, to exhibit his hoc
loges electriques in the Mayor's Parlour, at the Town'hail The Mayor, the Town-clerk, Alderman Willert►
Councillor Simpson, the Rev. Canon Richeon,
the Rev.
H. H. Jones, and other gentlemen taking an interest
in the subject, were present. There were three elms-
trio clocks, of varied external appearance, placed la
different parts of the room, and these were governed
by one ordinary pendulum clock. The common
clock has an addition made to it (which we under-
stand can be added to any clock) whereby it is brought
into contact with the two poles of a galvanic battery.
The wires from the battery communicate with a drum.
moved by the clockwork, and every fifteen seconds the
current is changed, the positive and the negative being
transmitted alternately. The going of this clock rego'
lates the motion of the others., A wire is continued from
the drumelectric clock, which is of very ein3PII
construction. of one of them was file°
to a dial of plate glass, so that the movement could be
easily observed. There are two pairs of small straight
electra-magnets,
each pair having their ends opposite to
the other pair, with about half an inch space between.
Within this space there bangs a vertical steel bar, whin!'
may also may be made of plate-glass, suspended from
spindle at the top. The rod has two slight projections on
each side, parallel to the ends of the wire-coiled magnets.
When the electric current comes on the wire from the
positive end of the battery (through the drum of the
regulator-clock), the positive magnets attract the bar to
it, the distance being perhaps the sixteenth of an inch.
,
When, at the end of fifteen seconds, the negative polo
operates, zepulsion takes effect, and the bar moves te
the opposite side. This oscillating bar gives motion to
a wheel, which turns the minute and hour hands. This
is effected rather curiously ; it is something like to!
common crutch or anchor escapement, only that, instead
of the wheel moving the escapement, the escapement
moves the wheel. The teeth of the wheel are cut ob:
liquely, or sloped on one side, so that all the pallets el
the anchor come in contact with the sloping sides of tb?
cogs of the scape-wheel they force it round. The wheel
moves one cog every 15 seconds (but could be made to
move every second or half second if required), the War
ment being imparted on each side alternately. It was eIY
served that the 3 clocks beat simultaneously, in isuit Sp
precisely that the triple sound was mistaken by several 0
proceeding from one clock. It was stated by the ie.
ventor, that if the galvanic battery were attached to all
particular standard clock, say the one in the vestibule of the
Town Hall, that any number of clocks, placed in what*
ever part of the city (or the kingdom), communicatieg
with this by a wire, would indicate precisely the Same
time. The precision with which the instruments Per
formed was the subject of general remark. We under:
'
stand that in a prior invention, electricity was only use
°
to impart the motion in one direction, a spring being
depended upon for the opposing motion. Yracticeshoweeto
that when the electric current was weak, the spring it°
too strong, and this sometimes led to inaccuracy.
Kammerer obviates this by employing the current. Pee°
tive and negative, for both motions. We learn that
many hundreds of these clocks are in use upon the
...rail-
ways and in the public offices in Belgium, and that M-
Kammerer is under contract to supply a large order is
Russia. We believe it is not unlikely that an opporto'
nity may be afforded to the public to satisfy then:toll
respecting the utility of this method of keeping correct
time. One of the clocks was fitted in a street lamp, 1413.1
for this purpose they seem very suitable, as no additional
cost would be incurred for illumination, while their Or
sure in large thoroughfares would be a publio convenience
They also appear to be admirably adapted for well"
houses or other large establishments, where one battery
could be employed for impelling the instruments place,
in the various rooms. Mr. Kammerer is remaining fo t.
short time in Manchester (at Mr. Van Hees, No. 8, r.
James's-square), in order that parties desirous of iele.
nation, or who may wish to treat for the invention 0
this district, may have an interview with him.

The Cork Constitutional says the connection of Fos'
Henderson, and Cu. with the Bandon Railway ba„6
ceased. They received 10,000/. in cash, and 7,0901- 1'
shares, in liquidation of all claims.
SEZURE OF A PRIVATE DISTILLERY, ST. J°ll,';
WOOD.—On Thursday last a seizure of a private
tillery was made at No. 8, Lodge-road, Park-road, °"
John's-wood, by Messrs. Vanstone, Supervisor, Bo e
Leigh, and Pargeter, officers of the London Detectict,
Force. The still was in full operation at the time tb
officers arrived. A. roan who gave his name Win- WI --
T
was arrested and taken to the police-court, St. Mart of
bone, when Mr. Long fined him 30/., and in default
,or
payment committed him to Coldbath-fields Frisco:l,%.
3 months. The seizure was conveyed to the Inland lb
venue Warehouse, Tower-hill.—Civil Service Gazette. It,
THE ART-TREASURE PALACE AT IVLANCHESTEIt•A"-..4
serious accident occurred yesterday at the
erected at Old Trafford for the Art-treasure Exhibiti
A. brick wall,o
which had been carried up 33 feel r rla.
the ground, fell suddenly to the ground. One unfood
nat, man, named Jonee, a bricklayer, acayer, was lulled: a,
seven others were seriously injured. The loss oc
pined by the accident is stated at 1001.