Telegram-herald., 1890-08-18
A MARVELLOUS CLOCK
Ph1adsipkis's Present - the
Cruiser Named fer Fer.
Tbs finest Specimen "a CiSe&- n -kins s
Essr PFo1aess Ia shs Jntsed st@ses-
A tzoxk OF Arx as Nell a.
AecarsEs TiE1s- EssPox.

Above the silver-face5 disl an eagle,
with o1tsprea6 wings. assumes @eetsns-
I've position, SAYS t1s PhiladelPni@
Ledger, whlls On tie F.ght side Of he
eloek face stands fGll length rgare q
= woman. IN classic attire, holding
roll As shs leans on the side Of tbs oezs--
TO the left another female rggre stands
n = similar position. Carrying the horn
OF plenty ca one 2FIn. Below the clock
face shield. which upon close inspee-
tion Is seen 70 represent section on
the hall % vessel surmounts crossed
guns and Is encigeled BY laurel wreath
On tais shield Is an inscription setting
forth that the clock was presented %
the cruiser Philadelphia on behalf OF
the citizens OF Philadelphia
A cable forms a square sround the
clock case. and ia loops AZ each OF tho
two upper corners fouled anchor IS
held. From either sid9 Of the group
around the dial two draped American
standards jut out gracefully. AID be-
meath TIE two female figures, which
stand On q kind Of premonitory. are
seen choppy waves toEdered with
scroll. bearing the words. philadelphia
Maneto" massive scroll AZ the base
Of the clock is inscribed II. 5 5. Phila-
delphia"
The silver dial bears figures in gold
in relief OF most beautiful aud original
design. The minutes are divided by
raised, golden pegs, while the center Of
the face bears an exquisite piece OF the
jewelers. art 1t is the shield of The
city's arms. The plow, IN the top sec
ton OF the device, is in relief, as IS the
ship, with al her canvas on. which is
IN the lower third. Tho whole plate is
most dainty and correct in detail, and
above il, also in has relief, Is the arm OF
Justice, with tho balance. A rich,
golden scroll frames the arms on tho
face, which, altogether, is pronounced
70 be not only exquisite bat unique.
This part OF the Characterization is an
excellent specimen OF the good en-
graver's art. Considerable difficulty
was encountered in modelling the work
IN getting an eaglo that woald be suit
able. Finally dne specimen was
secured in the Academy OF Natural
Sciences. and il has been faithfully re-
produced. The two female figures were
modelled from life, and are fair repre-
sentat.ons of graceful and 1.-THE femi-
nine forms They are in a gilt bronze,
which contrasts pleasantly with the
dark bronze of their surroundings. In
the original model the two figures were
in bGs relief, but the sculptor, and
- fhnF of~
could be heightened by placing the
figures in full relief, as they are nov
seen.
To give some idea Of tho care be-
slowed upon the time-piece 1t should be
mentioned that, in order to have tho
guns and the old-styie wooden ship in
tie design truthful, the firm sent to the
Navy Department and received photo
graphs Of The old man-of-war Constitu-
ton and Of the new-style ordnance, and
from these those seen in the completed
work were modelled.
Strictly speaking, the movement of
the clock IS nautical one. IL is con-
structed with balance wheel on tho
principle OF watch; consequently the
pitching and tossing sea viii not affect
the movement The escapemcnt is a
demi-chronometer, ieweled in all its
principal parts, and highly finished.
Instead of the hours, the chime OF
bells strikes in couplets, in truo nautical
style, the ships bells. Whom it is
twelve o'clock eight bells are struck,
instead OF twelve. as in other time
pieces; at nine o'clock, two bells, etc.
This has never before been accom-
plished IN 4 fnc clock. Another feat
ure which viii 'be appreciated by
mariners, which is also IN i'm
provemeat, is that of making the hour
hand free Of its twin, the minute hand,
in regulating the clock. This enables
them to turn tho clock back or forward
an hour without disturbing the minute
hand, as IS required to be done every
day in crossing tho various degrees Of
longitude dGring = a voyage.
I The regulation of the hands and bells
Is commanded by a series OF wheels.
hidden il metal clost opening on ono
side Of the case. IN ingenious device
has been contrived to open tho bezel Of
+ the clock, go that the minute hand can
u tWAAtd IA ASe ei@e.Aa 4o " hch A"'
required % be open it is locked by a
minute lock in the lower rsrt. By in
sart.ng a small hoolI-hke key and Civ
i-r l. 8 turn thc case IS unlocked. Two
otaer hooks are placed n the sides. aad
the plato glass and bezcl drawn ont
about al inch Thon by hidden hinge
On the top the piece can be raised.
The clock is incased in a mahogany
box and the back is OF steel. Tho whole
piece weighs about 40 pounds, is about
three foet high, and is nearly as any
broad.