Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-20
A Wonderful Collection Of CIock K IT. 4t.a Iltsraa.1-t,i. Innc-k

after his great tour around the world he brought to his friend Mir. George W. Childs large hall clock, which he designed ss 8 companion piece to two remarkable timekeep- CTS then in Mir. Childs' possession-one had licked for more than two centuries in an Austrian cloister, and had rung out the sig nals which daily reused the monks to their devotions the other is the most complex and the most complete piece of time measur- ing machinery that can be found in America To look at these curiositiss reporter visited the private office of the Ledger publisher on Sixth street, below Chestnut. The apartment is patterned somewhat after a room in Coombe Abbey, Warwickshire, which one of it's lords had fitted up for the reception of Queen Elizabeth. The quaint open fireplace, high wainscotting, the plaster pendants of the ceiling, the Flemish stamped leather for wall papering, and tile flooring are in per- feet accord with the style and traditions of these massive time-pieces.
 Lost in admiration of the treasures, and carried back to the medieval days when tims was measured by the height of a burning candle or the pouring of a sand glass, faint melody was waited through the room, and 8 chime tingled in sweet, sharp notes. 4 minute passed and three light taps on a highly toned bell, followed by four heavy taps on deeper bell, told that the time was three-quarters after the hour.
 A bright looking lad, whose special duty it is to usher visitors into the office, suggested that the reporter wait until noon, and novel performance would be witnessed.
 Meantime a glance around the room re- veaIed clocks in every place where such heavy articles could be put. On MT. Childs' writing desk were three odd-looHng time pieces. On the top was clock made with lapis lazui case, one foot high and ten inches broad. Stone as it is, the clock case is worth more than it's weight in solid gold. and is the highest priced article in the room.
 General Grants present, sometimes known as the Grant clock, and often named the Klingenburg clock (after its maker, John Klingenburg of Amsterdam Is of great value. But, precious as are these two time keepers, they are commonplace as compared with the Rittenhouse clock, which occupies an honor corner in the magnificent office. For ingenuity and accuracy and beauty of workmanship it is believed to exceed any clock in America. David Rittenhouse, a fa- nous Philadelphian, after whom Rittenhouse Square was named, made the clock in 1767 for Joseph Potts, who paid $64O to Ritten- house. This timspieee was much sought af- ter in the early days of the republic, 125 guineas having been offered for it by Lord Howe when he was holding Philadelphia un- der occupation. Later on, the Span ish Minister to the United States wanted to make a substantial present to his sovereign, and offered $500 for this clock. It, however, fell into the possession of the Barton family, who retained it until it was bought by Mir. Childs in October, 1879. The intrieacy of its mechanism is wonderful. It contains seventy-two wheels, with 5,6S5 teeth. It is operated by three weights, az gregating 100 pounds in weight. It addition to the timepiece 1t has musical attachment and a limited planetarium in miniature. On it's face are six dials. The main dial in the centre has four hands, indicating seconds, minutes, hours, and days, the last being so set as to run perpetually, with due provision for leap year and all the other yagarieS of the calendar The phases of the moon are also shown. The second dial accurately repre- sents the movements of Venus Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and the earth around the sun, each of the planets being represented bya small gold ball that makes its orbital revolutions around central sun the with wonderful preci- sion. Thus far theigoId ball marked upiter has made only nine and half revolutions since the clock was made, 114 years ago. Tue rim of the dial is marked only with the signs of the zodiac thus showing the location of each planet.
 Equally curious is the dial in the upper left-hand corner, which describes the moons phases in it's course around the earth. The moon is portrayed by ball, half white and half black, which slowly trayerses around dnOtueI Ddll representing Iu6 GAIlug tue moon being made to revolve on pinion in such manner as to give the correct view of it when in its various stages of reflection The lower left hand corner shows Saturn slowly crawling along its twenty nine year course around the sun. Another as- tronomical feature of the clock is it's sun dial, which shows sun time, fast or slow, in comparison with mean meridian time. The movement necessary for this dial is exceed ingly intricate and rare. The sixth dial re- veals a combination of chimes, which play at every quarter half and full hour. 4 hand is turned to one of ten numbers, and when the quarter point IS reached peal of choral music is heard, lasting for minute. gen. tie push on a little knob on the dial brings repetition, and the twenty tiny bells gush out their sweet melodies.
 It was while the scribe was glancing at this astronomical wonder that the State House bell tolled out its heavy midday clang, and almost at the same instant a flood of music deluged Mir. Childs' office. Each of the eleven clocks, excepting the antique English" struck the hour the astronomical clock in deep, rich tones i; the convent clock with a high tingling sound the mantle clock with softness that is characteristic of French timepieces the Louis XIV. clock on a highly toned bell the Rococo clock with healthy, loud sound, and the Iapis lazui with pleasing jingle Then the chimes struck up, and for another min ute sweet concord pergaded the room. The effect was thrilling. The products of the two continents were brought into an array that pictured distinct, successive periods of prUgress in handicrsft and scientific attain ment. It was blending of times and peo- ples, of history and art.