Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-08
A WONDERFUL CLOCK.
4 WONDERFUL CLOCK.
Has Been Twelve Years i'm Building-
Now First Exhibited to the Public
TO be Taken to the Worlds Fair.

4 WONDERFUL CLOCK.
Has Been Twelve Years in Ruilding-
Now First Exhibited to the Public
TO be Taken to the Worlds Fair.
WATERBURY,, Conn, March THE
clock which has been in process Of con
struction in the Waterbury watch works
here for the past twelve years, was finished
late this afternoon, and was shown to
persons outside the shop for the first time.
The clock as 1t stands is, without doubt
the most elaborate, intricate and beautiful
piece of mechanism in America, and prob
ably In the world. The idea of building
the clock originated with E. A.. Locke,
formerly superintendent of the works and
now secretary of the company. It was
originally intended to exhibit Ii at the
Paris exposition, but 1t was found that It
could not be completed In time. Most of
the work on the timepiece was done by D.
A. A. Buck, but he left the employ of the
company some time ago, and 1t was COM
pleted by Mr.. F. E. Hubbard.
The base of the clock is six feet equare
and the timepiece is sixteen fest in height.
1t is made of black walnut, highly polished
and handsomely carved, the carvings rep
reeenting scenes in the history of the eoun-
try from the landing of Columbus down to
clock and on each side are allsgorioal scenes
representing mechanical progress In the last
century, every figure in each group being
in motion. The largest scene is that in the
lower center of the clock. It represents
the "train room" of the Waterbury watch
factory, with all of the shafting and
machinery in operation and twenty
four operatives at work. The figures
go through every motion of the work
inches In height and does its work COM
pletely. The other scenes are at the sides
of the clock, four on each side. The sub
jects are a cotton gin mill In full operation
in cotton field. Negroes are at work
carrying the cotton in from the field and
placing 1t in the gin while Ell Whitney ia
explaining the workings of the machine to
a planter. A &c oond scene shows the old
methods of manufacturing cloth. The
operatives are at work beating the flax and
preparing it for the looms and spinning
wheels. A third represents a GOAL mine
with the cage working and the miners
getting out the coal. A fourth is
e representation of the improvement in
sewing machines. Elias Howe Is watching
the work of one of his first machines, while
near by the machines Of the present time
are at work, and in another group are wo-
men laboriously sewing by hand. The
fifth represents the advance in the electri-
cal world. Electrician Daft fs represented
and an electric dynamo is in operation.
The sixth shows the interior of q telegraph
and telephone Office, with the operators at
work and messenger boys running in and
out. The seventh ia a contrast of the old
and new methods of manufacturing
watches, showing the improved factories
of the present day and kitchen in Switz-
erland where watches were made by hand
years sgo. The last is an old fashioned
sswmill, with the saw running, logs NOV
ing and many children playing near by
The figures are all operated by an electric
motor and are constantly in motion. The
center of the clock is occupied by beauti-
full water color painting of the buildings
and grounds of the watch company in this
city, while just above is the handsome dial
of the clock. It is three feet in diameter
and indicates the days OF the week, month
and year and the hours, minutes and SEQ
onds of the day, the moons phases aud
the tides. Myriads of electric lights are
burning in the clock, making ecene of
SURPRISING beauty. Every person rep
resented Is an exact likeness and
every figure Is complete IN every
respect. At the top of the clock is
handsome carving of the Declaration of
Independence" with reproduction of the
famous liberty bell The clock will be
sent to the worlds fair in three weeks and
will be the principal exhibit of its kind.
It is beyond all doubt the finest piece of
workmanship of its kind in existence, and
represents an expenditure of thousands of
dollars and the labor of years. The work
has been done in secret and none but en-
ployes have been allowed to see it.