The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-06-26
GRANDFATHER CLOCKS.

mew Credulous People Are Imposed Upon
by Skilled Artists.
The real grandfather clocks are still
mich sought after, not only by the
.ouveau r.che. but by those whose
eristocrat:c ancestors failed to hand
down the tall Emepieee which stood IN
fheir Railways in the days Of vore.
The word real is used advisedly, for
The demand for these old-fashioned
fmepieces has given rise to the manu-
facture of i'm tat.on grandfather
clocks. A year or two ago some were
brought to this market from the New
England States. but at present Balti-
more is the only place where the imi-
tation clocks are manufactured and
sold as genuine. Many of our largest
Jewellers, however, are making clocks,
the eases of which are constructed of
mahogany, walnut, rosewood, and
cherry in imitation of the ancient
timepieces, but these are invariably
sold for just what they are. In
deed, the fact is that it has been found
impossible to build an imitation grand
fathers clock so that the deception
could not be detected by experts, the
defects being found in small details
In New England century ago a
large number of these clocks were
made. the works being constructed out
of wood, and VIII lie they are said to
have been excellent time keepers in
their day, such of them as are in cxis-
tence now have long since outliyed their
usefulness, except as ornaments or
Tho roo1 onfsrr,n
father clocks, with metal works, are
known as the ..Dntchman' represents
by far the finest of these antiqueclocks.
These are made in Holland and some of
them that are still in existence are
dated as far back as 100. Many of
them are of exceedingly fine and intri-
cate workmanship, Ginning old Dutch
airs, striking the hours and quarters,
and showing the phases of the moons
calendar. They are perfect timekeep-
ers and are worth from $500 to 81, 900
each
Early in the eighteenth century En-.
gland also manufactured similar clocks,
and quite a number of them were in
cased in frames by Chippendale, the
famous cabnet-maker of century and
half ago, and those now command
fancy figures. A clock made for Lon
don finn. which is incased in Chip
pendale case of rare beauty. but simple
In design. is now exhibited in an estab-
ishment on Union Square. In addi-
sion to keeping correct time, it shows
the motion of the planets, the calendar.
many astronomical data. and plays
thirteen tunes. 1t is valued at %. 200.
rs it possible" asked the reporter
Of an expert in the business, '.that the
clock of the future will run perpet-
ually. being SO constructed that the
changes of the temperature between
night and day viii wind it up?"
xs.No doubt that such clocks will be
manufactured, as it is perfectly feasible
to construct one to be rim not only by
changes in the temperature, but by
other simple forces, such. for instance.
IS the draught from achimney. Clocks
can be also constructed to run for an
almost indefinite period without being
wound up by extreme delicacy in man.
ufactlring their works.
DO you think that docks OF this
character viii ever come into general
use?'
That is not likely. as the delicacy
Of their works would prevent them
from be ng of practical value for every:
day use. IN. +. MaI and Express.