Telegram-herald., 1890-04-21
THE GROWTH OF CLOCKS.
sscfEnTS SCORED Tt4E hours "frFt
WATER TlAEPiEcES.

s4rsslS@s Dss~lsPz2sAs Sf EAs choS< La
s4~ssy ~ IA. Cszatry- s~Gas f--4Sss
Ola CtssSks TG.s asss Ezsss~4 foE h~2-
dreds ~ Ks@zs-Eii rxrry.
The dropping u Satsr through small
hols IA a lsE S@s llsed oy the Greeks aad
Romans IS Eis rough msasaGe u Silae.
TIE water being either measured Ia the
ar from ~tleh il lio~zd o. elss 5y means
Of a hoastng piece x wood ~ = reoslylng
lar. Occasionally some very wealthy
ancient Greek or Roman had clspsy dra
that sounded : musical n0<e az Intervals
of an hour.
The story Of KING Alfred and his twelve
candles, each Of which burned FOR exact
~ two hours. Is vel 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 Ia order THAI they should
know ar what time 70 mount guard.
At what period in the worlds history
sun diAls came into use IL is impossible
even 10 COZ lecture. Tie Chsldesns were
accustomed 70 hang bead ia a hollow
hemisphere ia such position that the
shadow thrown by the bead would point
directly 10 the hour, which was marked
on the lnneg side OF the hemisphere.
The old clock ca the eastern end Of
Faneuil hall, Boston, was formerly q dial.
OLD HOROLoGR.
The word horo.oge (horologia) means
hour teller, and was in very early times
applied 10 any machine for telling the
hours. Previous 10 the discovery OF the
pendulum these were very unreliable af-
fairs. The striking parts, however, Of
those erected in Canterbury cathedral in
1852, and at Westminster in 1888, and
many other places at these early dates,
are still in use.
The earliest known description of
genuine horologe is that of one sent by
the sultan of Egypt in 1882 10 the Empe-
rOr Frederick III. 1T resembled a celes-
tial globe, in which the sun, moon and
planets moved, being impelled by weights
and wheels, 50 that they pointed out the
hour, day and night with certainty"
\ horologe from Dover Castle was on
exhibition some years ago in London. 1t
bore the date 1913, 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 jackknife and saw
he made the first clock at Terryville,
Lischfield county.
He began the business in 1893. In the
year 1900 he employed two young men
| 10 help him. The works of his clocks
were now cut out several dozen at q
time, owing 10 the business becoming
rapidly enlarged. They were afterward
put together. Mr.. Terry, when lie had a
small stock of clocks ready, would make
a trip TO what was then called 1.-The new
/ country" just across the lower Hudson,
and sell the clocks for about $50 each,
| this price being for the movement alone
In 1907 Mr.. Terry fitted up mill with
machinery and took "a large contract to
make clocks for Waterbury capitalists
/ In 1903 he began the works of 800 clocks
at once. Previous 20 this time the wheels
had been marked out with square and
/ compass and the teeth cut with a very
fine saw. Mr.. Terry made the patterns
and managed the business, bat left his
wOrkmen to do the mechanical parts
and went himself from house to house to
| peddle clocks. He often carried back to
Terryville salt pork and farm produce in
payment for his timepieces. At that time
Mr.. Terry was poor, but twenty-five
years later he was worth 100000.
INCREASE OF THE BUSINESS.
The business was sold out in 1910 to
Seth Thomas and Silas Hoadley, two Of
Mr.. Terry's leading mechanics, and Mr.
Terry devoted himself TO inventions and
, improvements. Other concerns sprang
up about this time, and the price of
clocks was reduced from $25 TO $40 and
s.. The great family of Yankee clock
peddlers grew out of the competition of
the manufacturers, and with two or three
clocks in their saddle bags they started
out to the south and the then far west
The business was revolutionized in 1914
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 81 600. Their incomes were
at this time from $l5, 900 to $50, 900 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
ganized. He died In April, 1888. The
present treasurer Of the company is bis
only son. Seth +. Thomas.
There are several tower clocks in New
York none OF which strike the hours. II
was at one time usual 10 demand in 4
tower clock a variation Of not more thar
a minute a month. One in Independence
Hall has averaged a variation of less thar
. second a month. At H0lyoke. Mass.
the variation has not exceeded tvo sec
Onds a month. In making sale now
ten seconds month must be guaranteed
William Gregory Hodson in san Fran
cisco Chronicle.