Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-18

scroll. bearing the words, philadelphia
Maneto. A massive scroll at the base
of the clock is inscribed u. S. S.
Philadelphia"
The silver dial bears figures in gold
| in relief of most beautiful and 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
| clty's arms. The pillow, in the top Sec
ton of the device, is in relief, as is the
ship. with all her canvas on, which is
In the lower third. The whole plate is
| most dainty and correct in detail, and
above it. also in bas relief, is the arm
| OF justice, with the balance. A rich
golden scroll frames the arms on the
face, which altogether is pronounced
to be not only exquisite but unique.
This part of the ornamentation is an
| excellent specimen of the good engrav-
er's art. Considerable difficulty was
encountered in modelling the work in
getting an eagle that would be suit
able. Finally a fine specimen was
secured in the Academy of Natural
sciences, and it has been faithfully re-
produced. The two female figures
were modelled from life, and are fair
representations of graceful and 1.-THE
feminine forms. They are in ID gilt
bronze. which contrasts pleasantly with
the dark bronze OF their surroundings.
In the original model the two figures
were in has relief. but the sculptor.
and rightly, too, thought that the eff
feet could be heightened by placing the
figures IN full relief as they are now
seen.
To give some idea of the care be-
slowed upon the timepiece it should be
mentioned that, in order to have the
guns and the old-style wooden ship in
the 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 a nautical one 1t is con-
structed with Il balance wheel on the
principle of watch; consequently the
pitching and tossing sea will not effect
the movement. The escapement is a
demi-chronometer, jeweled in all it's
principal parts, and highly finished.
The movement is adjusted to heat and
cold and position.
Instead of the hours the chime of
bells strikes in couplets, in true nautical
style, the ships bells. When it is II
o'clock eight bells are struck. instead
of twelve, as in other timepeces; at 9
o'clock, two bells, etc. This has never
before been accomplished in a fine
clock. Another feature which will be
appreciated by mariners, which is also
an improvement, is that of making the
hour hand free of its twin, the minute
hand, in regulating the clock. This
enables them to turn the clock back or
forward an hour without disturbing the
minute hand, as is required to be done
every day in crossing the various de-
grees of longitude during voyage.
The regulation of the hands and
bells is commanded by a series of
Wheels hidden in a metal closet open
ing on one side of the case. An in
genious device has been contrived to
open the bezel of the clock. so that the
minute hand can be turned in reoulat
ing it. When not required to be open
it is locked by a minute lock in the
lower part. By inserting Il small hook
like key and giving it a turn the case
is unlocked. Two other hooks are
placed in the sides. and the plate glass
and bezel drawn out about an inch.
Then by hidden hinge on the top the
piece can he raised.
The clock is incased in a mahogany.
box and the back is of steel. The
whole piece weighs about 400 pounds,
is about feet high, and is nearly as
many broad. Work was started on it
last December, and has been continued
ever since