The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-01-26
Cl0ck-W0rk.

Journal of Commerce gives the following
interesting notes of the manufacture oi
clocks in that city:
"New Haven, as city, has undergone
great changes within few years. Though
still retaining her primitive character
istics-her genteel residences and shaded
/ retreats-she has been engra(ted with an
enormous manufacturing interest, which
is closely identified with her prosperity,
and yet is of such recent growth tn at few
comprehend its extent and Importance
Almost the entire eastern part of the city
which, comparatively short time since,
was in commons, is now thickIy studded
with the small chimneys of establishments
for the N anufacture of Yankee notions,
in all their variety, and with the dwell
lings of the mechanics employed by them.
One of the most CONSPICUOUS of these is
Jeromes immense clock factory, in which
upwards of four hundred and fifty per-
sons are employed, and more than six
hundred clocks are daily manufactured.
Last September the unusually large num-
Der of seventeen thousand was turned out.
|
like the leaves of the forest, regulate the
movements of individuals in all parts of
the world. A recent traveller encountered
them in the mountoins of Asia; and, but
few days ago, parcel was shipped to
Jerusalem via Joppa.' The universal
Yankee clock may now be considered the
fit representative of the Yankee nation,
and an appropriate device for her escut-
cheon. Mr. Jerome's works consist
of twelve buildings, in which all the
processes necessary for the commence
ment and completion of clock TO-
yer two hundred) are carried on; and
each one is facilitated by the use of ma
chinery. The advantages thus afforded
defy all competition The old fashioned
/ Dutch clock has become an obsolete thing
and the Germans have been completely
supplanted in the extensive trade in clocks
which they transacted with England
twelve years ago. Last year Mr. jerome
made not less than one hundred and fifty
thousand clocks, and the number manu-
featured this year is expected to reach
two hundred thousand, valued at about
FIVE hundred thousand dollars. This is a
number greater, probably, than the joint
production of all other similar establish
ments in the United States. And, not
withstanding the enormous supply during
the present year, it has been unequal to
the demand This is partly owing to the
great change which has lately taken place
in the manner of making clocks-the
spring having superseded the weights, and
a more fanciful style-the veneered cases.
Dispensing with the weights has particu-
larly affected the foreign demand.
'In order to obtain an adequate idea
of the extent of Mr.. Jeromes operations,
no display ofstatistics can be a substitute
for personal inspection of the works.
Extended lines of men, ranged beside
work k-tables,are seen, with whom the sew
eral pieces required in the construction
of a clock Twelve to twenty are passing
through from rudimentary to a COM
plete state. At one end of the series may
be seen an immense quantity cf detached
parts; at the other huge heap of sever
al thousand movements, ready for casing
and which might apparently be sold as
we'll by the busbel, or half busbel, as by
any other method. More than twenty five
thousand, of various styles, are continual
ly in process of construction. In the
manufacture of cases the same systematic
procedure is observed as is noticed above.
The rough lumber, of which over two
million five hundred thousand feet are
consumed, is speedily cut into the de-
sired lengths, split, beveled, and veneered:
or, where cases ore japaned or vanished,
the several pieces are painted, baked, and
decorated, with the greatest expedition.
In the use of pearl, which is inlaid on
some varieties of cases, great improve
ment has been proposed. The pearl be-
ing a very expensive material, Professor
Shepherd has suggested that it may be
produced artifcially, by combination Of
lime and various chemical substances, OBJ
vitiating the necessity of exploring the
depths of the ocean in order to procure
this article. The experiment. will doubt
less soon be made.
"Numerous ways have also been de-
vised, from time to time, by which the
actual cost of the clock is reduced. BY
newly-invented machine, a section Of
tree may be converted into a continuous
veneer, much after the fashion of remov-
ing the pairing of an apple; and some ot
our common scrubby and apparently
worthless trees, and certain kinds of wood
marred by an abundance of knots, are
found to polish admirably. More thar
five hundred thousand feet Of veneers ar,
used per annum. In cutting the teeth o
brass wheels aud other parts, a machine
acts on large number of separate pieces
simultaneously, and the whole are pre-
pared with the same facility that one
could be. As all parts are adjusted will
mathematical accuracy, by the uperrin2
action of machinery, it is as easy to make
a good clock as "a worthless one; and such
as are very low-priced, selling tor one
dollar each, are guarautied to the moro
costly variety in bronze, gilt, marble, &c.