The sun., 1890-01-12
4 srRAssUHe CLOCK Up 70 DATE
1t Has Railroad Scene and otbe~ Won
ders-The Work of an Untauxht Genius.

1t Has Railroad Scene and Otbe- Won
ders-The Work of an Untauxht Genius.
PITrSTON, Pa. Jan. lin the loft Of an old
barn standing 100 yards north OF the d. g. II
Railway station. at Cork Lane. is In operation
bit OF mechanism which. when completed
will rival any similar contriyance In the State.
1t consists OF massive clock, something ater
the fashion of the celebrated Strasburg clock
standing IL feet high. feet wide, and feet
deep. The clock is reached by IA small ladder
composed OF boards nailed to the weather.
boarding OF the barn.
The clock as 1t now stands is composed OF
two parts. on the lower one OF which there are
eight dials. No. shows the ordinary clock
dial. with minute and second hands: No. 2 n
series OF figures which tell the number of min
utes; No. the number of hours which have
passed since the beginning of the yenr: No.
the number OF days which have passed. Ia the
year, and by o complicated and Ingenious CON
by the dial in leap year. No. Is a split sec 1nd
dial. such as Is used in timing races, and
made to stop at the quarter second. No. i tells
the time OF meridian, forenoon, or afternoon.
and also the hour OF day by the twenty-iour-
which have passed in the month. and No. 8 the
day OF the week.
piece OF work that the genius, OF tho maker Is
displayed at its best on the base Of this part
is miniature railway scene, situated, as it
appears to the eye on the edge Of beautiful
city The scenery surrounding the spot is un-
usually natural, and rs the scene shifts to
evening by a mastery effect hundreds Of stars
are suddenly made to twinkle first family ana
then In full distinctness in the disk represent
Ing the heavens. Tho mechanism which
1t takes two hours for the invisible wires hold
ing them 10 descend from the recesses Of the
Gu met 10 DoInt over the city. a prominent
feature Of the scene is small railway station.
The tracks OF the railway emerge from tun-
mel at the rght-hand corner; and, WITH the bell
on tho engine loling and the whistle footing
merriy. the train pulls up at the station
Here. by automatic arrangement stop OF five
minutes is made. during which the door Of the
waiting room opens. aud three passengers
mako their appearance. The station agent also
nppears. the haEman throws a switch.
resumes its journey. During its absence a
second engine makes an nppearnnce comingi,o
switch. which Ia always securely locked upon
the approach OF the first train. The realism Of
the scene Is heightened by the presence on The
reverse side OF the station OF an ever r-yigignt
Ratekeeper. who lowers the gates and wa, es
the danger signal Mt the appr"ahh OF trains.
There is also In OperGtion an imitation OF an
electrtc street car which passes the station in
time to receive passengers from the train,
nro te ES Of Tie " cS s
alcoN o. In which appears at intervals Of five
minutes. one OF dozen figures which repre-
the little todder just learning TO walk to the
ray-haired and aged grandsire. AS the
tWeltn nRur6 makes U6 appearance ri the
close OF each hour, old Father Time with an
hourRlass In his hgnd. appears at an opening
In tho top oil the cabinet and strikes the hour
Of the day on u silver bell. On two sma dial5.
located on either side, are two human hands,
the one pointing to the season of tho year and
the other to the week Of the year.
The inventor and sole originator OF this In
ReDious contriyAnce is Young mechanic
named Thomas Fitzsmmons. Thomas is only
23 years Of age. has never Lad any education
beyond that acquired in the common schools.
making establishment His knack at invent
ing odd things Is purely inherent, and since he
was old enough to be about HIS spare time has
always beon devoted to mechanical expert
menting. The clock has enlisted his attention
for four years. and now lacks but the painting
ton During all this timo young tiHsimmOns
has worked at other odd Jobs and earned
living.