The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-13
CURIOUS CLOCKS.
STORIES OF SOME WONDERFUL
TIMEPIECES.
The Emperor Of China's Presents
A Clock of Olden Times-A Re-
markable Piece of Mech
anism in Scotland.

Many years ago two clocks of great in
genuity and elegant workmanship were
made in London and presented to the
Emperor of China by the East India
Company, a wealthy organization en-
gagged in commerce. Each clock was
made in the form OF chariot, in which
was placed the figure Of lady leaning
her right hand upon part of the char
lot; and under it was the clock of curl
GUS workmanship. 1t was smaller than
silver twenty-five cent piece, would re-
peat and strike the hours and would go
for eight days. Upon the finger of the
lady sits bird, finely modelled, set with
diamonds and rubies, with its tiny wings
extended in flying posture. By touch
ing q diamond button the bird would
actually hutter for q time. The
body of the bird, although it
contained part of the wheels
that gave motion to the clock, was
not more than one-sixteenth of an
inch in size. The lady held in her left
hand gold tube, not much thicker than
large pin, on the top of which was
small round box to which was fixed
circular movement set with diamonds
and not much larger than ten cent
cent piece. Over the lady's head, sup
ported by o small tluted pillar, was
double umbrella. The pillar was no
larger than q quill. Under the largest
umbrella bell was fixed at consider
able distance from the clock with which
it. seemed to have no connecticut but in
reality communication was secretly con-
veyed to hammer that regularly struck
the hour, and repeating the same ut
pleasure by the touching of a diamond
button fixed to the clock below. At the
feet of the lady was gold dog, and be-
fore it, from the point of the chariot,
were two birds fixed on spiral springs, the
wings and feathers of which were set
with Jewels of various colors, and ap-
pcared as if flying away with the chariot.
From another secret motion the chariot
was made to run in a straight, circular,
or indeed any direction. Above the UNI
brella were flowers and ornaments of
precious stones, and it terminated with
flying dragon, ornamented in similar
manner. The whole clock was made OF
gold, most delicately executed and en-
bellished with rubies and pearls.
A wonderful piece of mechanism
known as the Clepsydra, or water clock,
was once upon a time presented by
Turk.of high rank to Charlemagne. In
the dails of the clock were twelve doors
opening at the hours which they repre-
sented, and little balls equaling the hours
in number appeared aud struck the time
upon brazen bell. The doors continued
open until noon, when twelve knights,
mounted on horseback, issued forth, one
from each door, and after parading around
the dial of the clock shut themselves IN
again.
In the tower of the Town House in the
City of Heidelberg Germany. there ex-
listed many years ago clock 70 con-
structed that when the hours struck the
figure of an old man pulled off his hat, a
cock orowed and clapped his wings,
and bands of soldiers appeared and fought
with each other. This curious piece of
workmanship was burned in the year
1893, together with the castle and town.
In olden times there was remarkable
clock in the cathedral at London. Every
hour two no; semen came out OF the clock
to encounter each o-her, q door flew open
disclosing the Virgin Mary on throne,
! with Christ in her arms, people arc
gathered around presenting gifts, and
; two trumpeters are sounding their horns.
This clock also showed the month, day
of the month and all of the festivals and
holidays of the year.
In the Village of Pittenween in Scot.
land, about fifty years ago, there was
made and exhibited by Mr.. Smith, a
clock and watch maker of that place, an
automatical clock which, from the de-
scription given of it at that time, appears
to have equaled anything of the kind
ever produced. 1t comprehended a very
striking illustration of the musical and
religious character of the people of Scot
land. The case, which was of the finest
mahogany, was seven feet high, with
huted columns upon each side. The up
per part of the clock was ornamented
with carving, flet work and gliding,
with golden bird having wings ex-
tended standing in the center. The case
contained o large eight-day musical
I CLOCK, Will ulut pioeCo uhN q SAAah1S
! of sixteen bells. The whole clock was
divided into five different parts, each OF
which had its own particular weight.
The first was the going part; the second
kept small musical band in motion.
The band played a favorite tune over
once before striking the hour. The third
part struck the hour; the fourth moved
large masical band, containing eight
celebrated Scotch tunes, one of which
played every three hours, with great ex-
actness. The front dial plate or face
which was about eighteen inches in di-
ameter, had an arch which showed the
hours, Minutes and seconds, with
the name and date of the month,
without variation during the entire year,
even on the 2sth of February. The clock
turned out all the odd DAYS in one night
and brought out the 1st of March on the
following morning. In the plate there
were also two small hands, one of which
discovered the day of the week. When
Sunday came there appeared the words:
"Remember Sunday" and at II o'clock
the music stopped playing until IL o'clock
on Sunday nj ght. The music then began
again and continued until the next SIT
urday night. On the right hand was an
other dial plate eight inches wide, with
m arch. 1t contained hand that pointed
to the name of the tune the clock played.