, 1890-04-17
THE GROWTH CT CLOCKS.
AHcIENTs SCORED THE HOURS WITH
WATER TIMEPlEcES.

Marvellous Development OF the Clock In
dustu In mis- C0untry-SOne Famous
Old Clocks Thai Have Existed for Hun
dreds Of Tears-Eli Terry.
The dropping Of water through a small
hole in a Jar was used by the Greeks and
Romans as the rough measure Of time,
the water being either measured in the
lar from which it flowed or else by means
Of a floating piece Of wood in a receiving
lar. Occasionally some very wealthy
ancient Greek or Roman had n clepsydra
that sounded a musical note at intervals
of an hour.
The story of King Alfred and his
candles, each of which burned for exact
" two hours, is well known. The hour
glass Is also Of early date. We read that
in the early history of New York the
soldiers used hour glasses when defend
ing the city in order that they should
know at what time to mount guard.
At what period in the worlds history
sun diaIs came into use it is impossible
even to conjecture. The Chaldeans were
accustomed to hang n bead in a hollow
hemisphere in such position that h
shadow thrown by the bead would point
directly to the hour, which was marked
on the inner side Of the hemisphere.
The old clock on the eastern end OF
Faneuil hall, Boston, was formerly a dial.
OLD ~HoRoLoGE.
The word horologe (horologia) means
hour teller, n was in very early times
applied to any machine for telling the
hours. Previous to the discovery of the
pendulum these were very unreliable af-
fairs. The striking parts, however. Of
those erected in Canterbury cathedral in
1892, and at Westminster in 1888, and
many other places at these early dates,
are still in use.
The earliest known description OF n
genuine horologe is that of one sent by
the sultan Of Egypt in 1899 to the Empe-
ror Frederick II. lit resembled a ccles-
tial globe, in which the sun. moon and
planets moved, being impelled by weights
and wheels. so that they pointed out the
hour. day and night with certainty
A horologe from Dover Castle was on
exhibition some years ago in London. 1t
bore the date 134s, and was exhibited in
good going condition.
THE FATHER OF CLOCK MAKING.
Eli Terry was the father of the clock
making industry in this country. With
no implements but a j~ackknife and saw
he made the first clock at Terryville,
Litchfield county.
He began the business in 1898. In the
year 1900 he employed two young men
to help him. The works Of his clocks
were now cut out several dozen at u
time, owing to the business becoming
rapidly enlarged. They were afterward
put together. Mr.. Terry, when he had a
small stock Of clocks ready, would make
a trip to what was then called the new
country" just across the lower Hudson.
and sell the clocks for about S25 each,
this price being for the movement alone.
In 1907 Mr. Terry fitted up a mill witt
machinery and took a large contract to
make clocks for Waterbury capitalists.
In 1908 he began the works of 500 clocks
at once. Previous to this time the wheels
had been marked out with square aud
compass and the teeth cut with a very
fine saw. Mr.. Terry made the patterns
and managed the business, but left his
workmen to do the mechanical parts
and went himself from house to house to
peddle clocks. He often carried back 10
Terryville salt pork and farm produce in
payment for his timepieces. At that time
AAs AtiAN wa GtVif "a ANfilAN -iNt
years later he was worth 5000, 600.
INCREASE OF III BUSINESS.
The business was sold out in 1910 to
Seth Thomas and Silas Hoadley, two of
Mr.. Terryis leading mechanics, and Mr..
Terry devoted himself to inventions and
improvements. Other concerns Eprang
up about this time, and tho price of
clocks was reduced from $2j to $40 and
s.. The great family Of Yankee clock
peddlers grew out Of the competition Of
the manufacturers, m with two or three
clocks in their saddle bags they started
out to the south and the hen far west.
The business was r-evolutiOnized in 1911
by an invention Of Mr.. Terry-a shelf
clock Of wood, which superseded the old
fashioned hang up clock. This clock was
patented and called the pillar scroll top
case" Mr.. Terry sold his patent to Seth
Thomas for 81 900. Their incomes were
at this time from $40, 900 to SEQ, 600 a year
each. And together they made about
1000 clocks yearly.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Terry retired,
and, together with his sons, began the
manufacture OF locks and iron castings.
None of the family is now in the clock
business.
In 1859 the elder Seth Thomas died,
and his elder son succeeded him. Mr..
Thomas became secretary of the Seth
Thomas Clock company when it was or
gained. He died in April, 1888. The
present treasurer Of the company is his
only son, Seth E. Thomas.
There are several tower clocks in New
York none Of which strike the hours. 1t
was at one time usual to demand in a
tower clock a variation of not more than
a minute Il month. One in Independence
hall has averaged a variation of less than
a second q month. At Holyoke, Mass,
the variation has not exceeded two sec
onds q month. In making a sale now
ten seconds month must be guaranteed.
William Gregory Hodson in San Fran