Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-24
AN ELECTRIC TOWER CLOCK.
The First in the United States-Some of the
Details of it's Mechanism

Tbs first tower clock actuated by cleo
tricity in the United States has recently
been put in successful operation in the
new courthouse in Los Angeles, Cal. This
pioneer timepiece, that is commonly term
ed "the big clock, might be called in
botanical parlance composite, for 1t Is
in reality four clocks, as each dial in the
tower is supplied with its own separate
apparatus, operated by wires from the
main battery There are also Is smaller
clocks located in various parts of the mag
nifcent new building, and these 20 clocks
beat time together without ticking but
with instantaneous precision. The regula-
Tor which does the timekeeping is large
ejght-day clock that differs from an
ordinary regulator only In being provided
with two insulated wires, and when its
second hand completes It's round 1t comes
in contact with platinum point, which ia
Simultaneous touch makes a momentary
electric circuit by means of the wires, the
fash communicating with all the other
clocks and each obeys the Geographic
mandate by pointing new minute.
The source of the electricity for all this
automatic whispering is found in batteries
that are located in one of the tower rooms,
where two separate installations, each con-
tainin I'll cells, are in a cabinet together.
Only one of the two sets, is however, re-
quired at time-the other is simply for
use in case of an emergen oy, and it is but
the work of an instant to connect the whole
apparatus with the unused battery by sim
ply turning the handle of compound
switch. The clocks need not lose min
ute in the change, for the switching can
be accomplished between the electric
flashes, Among the many Interesting
parts of the ingenious mechanism is re-
lay through which all the electric currents
pass. This relay has at one end an arma-
ture and magnet similar to, but larger
than, those seen In a common telegraphlc
sourder. The lever of the magnet works
shaft that causes Is brass fingers to via
brate. When the fingers fall they COM
plete the electric current In Is wires that
run to TIE 20 dials-connection being as
simultaneously broken when the fingers
are raised. Ocular proof of the presence
of electricity is given in green sparks or
the tips of the brass points when the con-
nection is broken.
The device for utilizing the second hand
of the regulator, as we'll as the apparatus
for instantaneous switching from one of
the two batteries to the other, and the re-
lay for making all the currents simutane-
Gus, are each and all the invention and the
construction of ]. H. Elcher, who found
these methods an improvement on the
more cumberson appliances used In for
eign electric clocks. The system here es-
trblished has one decided advantage ia
that any one or more of the 20 clocks may
be stopped for repairs while the rest keep
time without interruption, for each clock
boc re- 10
battery.
Many grown persons are not so very I'M
like Toddles who wanted TO see re wheels
ge wound, and SO many a willing foot
will climb the extra flights of stairs above
the battery room and only pause in the
section of the tower where the four great
dials are placed. The gigantic hands of
rolled steel each weigh 40 pounds and are
to be seen dimly through the translucent
glass of the dials that are about Is feet in
diameter. The shaft that carries the
hands pierces the center of the disc where
it is connected with large armature with
an attachment of brass cog-wheels. Each
flash over the wires leading from the
battery-room whirls through the big spool
of wire III the armature, magnetizes the
soft iron core ard shield, swings ratchet
lever, gives turn to the brass cogwheels
and thus causes the minute hand outside
to swing along nearly 10 inches. We
who have stood with Toddies and his ilk
inside the dials, &C down to the outside
world 200 feet below, and when we turn
to look up once more at the minute hand,
we understand thai its seeming short
steps each announces that down in the
heart of the great building the tiny, tremb
ling second nand of the regulator has just
completed another delicate circle and
marked the fight Of another minute.
F. W., in Springfield Republican.