Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-12
WONDERFUL CLOCK.
The Ingenious TimepieCe Made
by Connecticut Men.
1t Is Sixteen Feet High and
Took IL Years to Finish.

One day recently reception was
held in Waterbury, Conn, at which
one of the most wonderful, if not
the most wonderful contrivances of
mechanical art in this country was
exhibited for the first time. Those
who were present saw work repre-
semting twelve years. skilled labor ex-
pended in original design and appli-
cation upon clock which is said to
rival that Of the famous Srasburg
Cathedral, and is said TO have no equal
in America.
In 1881 Il. A. Locke, conceived the
idea of constructing the clock, and
work upon it was Immediately begun.
1t was the original intention TO have it
finished and placed Oil exhibition at
the Paris Exposition in 1889, but the
scope of tie undertaking assumed
greater proportions as the work pro-
gresscd, and it has been completed on
ly week.
The tinepiece stands l6 feet in
height, with II six-foot base. Ii is
made of black walnut, highly polished,
and handsomely carved with scenes
representing American history from
the landing Of Columbus to the pres
cnt time. At the lower part of the
clock and Oh each side is an allcgor-
ical scene representing mechanical
progress during the last century,
every figure in each group being in
motion.
The largest scene is in the centre of
the clock. 1t represents the "rain
room" Of the Waterbury Clock Com
pany, with all the shafling and ma
chinery in operation and twenty-five
operatives at work. The figures 20
through every motion of work in that
department.
-Four scenes are represented on the
sides of the clock. The subjects arc,
first, cotton gin in full operation in
a cotton field, with the negroes carry
ing Tic cotton in from the fields and
pacing it on the cotton gin, while Eli
Whitney, who stands by, is explaining
the workings Of the machinery to Il
planter. A second scene shows the
old method of manu- featuring cloth.
The operatives are at work beating the
flax and preparing it for the looms and
spinning wheels. A third scene re-
presents coal mine with the cage
working and the miners digging the
banks of coal.
In fourth scene is representation
| OF the Improvement i'll sewing ma
chimes. Elias Howe is watching the
work of one of his machines, while
close by modern machines are plying,
and in another adjacent group are a
number of women laboriously sewing
by hand. The fifth group indicates
The advance in the electrical world.
Electrician Daft is represented Operat-
ing a dynamo. The sixth shows the
interior of telephone and telegraph
tlficc with operators at work and mes.
sengcr boys running in and out.
Scene Z contrasts the old and the
new methods . of manufacturing
watches, showing the improved fac
tories of the present day and kitchen
in Switzerland where watches were
made by hand century ago. The
last is an old fashioned sawmil wi h
the saw running, logs moving, and
children playing near by.
The figures are all operated by an
electric motor and are constantly j,
motion. The centre of the clock is
occupied by beautiful water color of
the buildings of the clock company
while just above is the handsome diaJ
of the clock. 1t is 8 feet in diameter
and indicates the days of the week
month and year, The hours, minutes
and seconds of the day, and the moons
phases and tides. Each figure repre-.
sented is an exact likeness and the
whole is complete in every respect.
AT the top of the clock is handsome
carving of tho "Dcclaration of lnde.
! pendoncc," with reproduction Of
the famous old Liberty bell.
The clock will be sent to The Colum.
bian Exposition. 1t is valued at $780,.
900. The work Oh il has been entire.
ly done in secret by ID. A. Buck and
+. L, Hubbard.-[Ncw York Times.