Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-03-08
WORLDS FAIR CLOCK.
A Wonderful Piece OF Mechanism Made
By the waterbury Watch Co.


A wonderful Piece of Mechanism Made
BY the waterbury Watch Co.
A reporter of the DEMOCRAT was
among those who, yesterday afternoon,
had the pleasure of examining the GEN.
fury clock, just completed by the Wa
terbury Watch Co.
The clock is without doubt the most
elaborate, intricate and beautiful piece
of mechanism in America. The idea of
building the clock originated with E. A.
Locke, formerly superintendent of the
works and now secretary of the COM
pany. It was originally intended TO
was found that it could not be COM
pleted 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 it was
completed by F. E. Hubbard. The base
of the clock is six feet square and the
timepiece is sixteen feet in height. It is
of black walnut, polished and hand
somely carved, the carving representing
scenes in the history of the country
from the landing of Columbus to the
present day. At the lower part of the
| clock and on each side are allegorical
scenes representing mechanical progress
4 in the last century, every figure in each
group being in motion.
The largest scene is that in the lower
center of the clock. 1t represents the
"train room" in 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 of
that department. Each figure is six
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 cotton gin in full operation
in a cotton field. Negroes are at work
carrying the cotton in from the field
and placing it in the gin, while Eli
whitney is explaining the workings OF
the machine to planter.
A second scene shows the old methods
of manufacturing cloth. The operatives
are at work beating the fax and prepar.
ing it for the looms and spinning
wheels. A third represents a coal mine
with the cage working and the miners
getting out the coal. A fourth is a re
presentation of the improvement il
sewing machines. Elias Howe il
watching the work of one of his frs
machines, while near by the machines
of the present time are at work, and il
another group are women laborously
! sewing by hand.
i the electrical world. Electrician Daft il
represented and an electric dynamo il
t l in operation. The sixth shows the in
} terror of a telegraph and telephone
t office, with the operators at work anC
r messenger boys running in and out
The seventh is contrast of the old ant
new methods of manufacturing
! watches, showing the improved fac
4 tories of the present day and kitchen
t in Switzerland where watches wer
: made by hand years ago. The last is al
L. old-fashioned saw mill with the saw
running, logs moving and man.
g children playing near by. The figures ar
r all operated by an electric motor an
e are constantly in motion.
S The center of the clock is occupied b.
= a water color painting of the building
t and grounds of the watch company i
t this city. while just above is the hand
: some dial of the clock. This is thre
q feet in diameter and indicates the day
f of the week, month and year, the hours
q minutes and seconds of the day, tn
t moons phases and the tides.
cI Many electric lights are burning i
b | in clock, making a scene of surpassin
e | beauty. At the top of the clock is
i handsome carving of the "Declaratio
d | of Independence" with a reproductio
j. lof the famous liberty bell.
eV The clock will be sent to the World
# fair in three weeks and will be the pril
e cipal exhibit of its kind. 1t represent
e an expenditure of thousands of dollar
e and the labor of years. The work hs
IS been done in secret and none but en-
[. bployes have been allowed to see it.