Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
A WONDERFUL CLOCK.
A Curious Piece of Mechanism, and
Puzzle to Everybody

"A curious P1ece of Mechanism, and a
Puzzle to Every body.
NJ. Wollman, the jeweler. of Council
Bluffs, Iowa, has given the curious ample
opportunity to test their ingenuity in an
endeayor to fathom the mystery of a clock
which he has recently completed and
placed in one of his show-windows. saws
the Jewellers Weekly. So far the most
persistent have failed to discover the in
fuence that impels the unique uimepiece
so accurately to record the hours and min
utes. A short time ago Mr.. Wollman
made an electric clock that attracted at
tention, not only in Council Bluffs, but in
expert circles elsewhere.
The mysterious clock is far ahead of the
electric apparatus in many respects. In
appearance it resembles the colored alcohol
signs IN drugstore window, being SIM
ply two g lass globes placed one above the
other. They are supported by delicate
pedestal, which is noticed to show that it
does not conceal mechanism. The base is
a piece of solid cherry wood turned out
eight inches In diameter. From this the
slender pedestal rises and supports the first
globe, which is about seven inches in di-
ameter. On this globe is dial marking
the minutes. Screwed to the base is a
solid hand which points to the minutes as
they, go by, the globe making one complete
revolution in each hour.
Above this is the smaller globe. about
four inches In diameter, with a dial
around its equator Indicating the hours.
A piece of silver-plated steel spring bent
IN the form of the figure Is screwed to
the base, forms the top support for the
two 81 obes and carries the stationary hand
that points out the hours on the smaller
globe, which revolves once in twelve
hours. The globes are of very thin and
transparent glass and have no apparent
connection with each other, at the top of
the base, except by the delicate pivots that
penetrate only small fraction of an inch
into the glass and form the axes upon
which the globes revolve. Another peculi-
arlty that renders the mystery of the
mechanism still more profound is the fact
that either of the globes can be revolved
backward or forward on their delicate
Plvots with great rapidity and without in
jury. When the motion ceases they re-
sumo their functions, losing only the time
occupied in spinning them.
The whole device is set on a mirror in
the showcase and can be picked up and
| examined at will. The mystery is the force
that moves the globe so accurately and
continuously one just twelve times faster
than the other, and both IN perfect time
with the jewelers. regulator, which mysti-
lied as the mechanical expert who criti-
cally examines the Lowell clock, or the
street gamin who gazes upon it through
the show window. 1t has been intimated
that sunlight or heat is the motive power,
but Mr.. Wollman has disproved this by
placing the timepiece in the shadow.
With the exception of the glass globes
every part of the mechanism has been
made by Mr.. Wollman at his bench 1t
Is a strange and remarkable production,
and bids fair to remain a puzzle until its
maker sees fit to reveal his secret.