The National tribune., 1895-04-18
HISTORIC CLOCKS.
A Souvenir of Dickens and a Clock
that Struck Ii.

Master Humphreys clock. patient, true, un-
firing, even as it licked in the old-fashioned
house in the London suburb, is ticking to-day
IN an Office in Spruce street. Now York. The
honest hands have marked of a century. The
great pendulum has swung 100 years to dust.
But there are no signs of old age on Master
Humphreys clock. 1t is as stalwart as it was
the day BOZ" and "Phiz" first looked into
its bland face aud passed the time of day.
Master Humphreys clock is now the prop
erty of Mr.. Isaac ii. Bailey, editor of the Shoe
and Leather Reporter, IL Spruce street 1t
hangs on the wall in his Office The history
OF its journey over is interesting. In the
FIRST place, 10 never was in London, in spite OF
Charles Dickens and the historians. Dickens
made very free with his stage properties"
his account of Master Humphreys clock is 10
more verscious than that of the Seven Poor
Travellers who foregatbered in Mattss Charity
that windy Christmas night
Wien the novelist determined to expose the
sbuses OF the Yorkshire schools, he journeyed
into the north country for the purpose of
maxi ing notes. The result of these researches,
es every one knows. was Nicholas Nick leby."
1t was on this expedition-the year of our
Lord 1S3s-that Boz" and "Phiz" found
themselves in Barnard Castle. In the village
was a matchmaker and horoloeer called Hum
pbrey.. Over the door of his little shop hung
the clock 1t was then about go years old. but
hale and hearty, ticking of go minutes TO the
hour as calmly and contentedly as though that
were what it had been made for. OF course,
it could hardly be expected to know that prop
erly it was a repository for the Marchioness,
Dick Swiveller Quilp. Little Nell, Barnaby
Ridge, Lord George Gordon, and host of
people who are now very much at home in the
world.
In 1876 the little shop in the market place
OF Barnard Castle, County Durham, was torn
down. George Angus, a merchant of Liver
pool and Newcastle-on-Tyne. CHANGED to be In
the village at the time. He rescued Master
Humphreys clock.
1t would be a good thing" said he TO his
brother john Angus, to send it 10 the Gen.
tennial Exposition in the United States"
'Ay, ay," said John Angus to his brother
George LOT us SEND it to Bailey and have him
exhibit It,"
Charles Dickens to let the clock out of his pos
session. The old oaken case Was battered and
decayed. This he had restored, but with the
exception of the oaken sheath the clock which
ticks in bis Office to-day is Master Humphreys
clock
When the clock was put in place and the old
pendulum began to mark New World time, Mr..
Bailey Toasted 200 of his friends, ali the famous
lite ateurs OF old New York. the choice spirits
who had hob-nobbed with Charles Dickens on
his two visits to these shores. George William
Curtis delivered the eulogy on Master Hum
phrey's clock.
The earliest clock worthy of our modern
definition, OF which there are any authentic
details, is the one said 10 have been made about
the year 1885 by Peter LightfoOt an ingenious
Monk, of Glastonbury Abbey, for and at the
expense of his Superior, Adam de L0dbury.
he first Off be oiAhr tad Tral
clocks was begun about 1880. Clocks began TO
be common in private families or the continent
at the end of the 18th century. 1t is also
probable that clocks began to be generally
known in England about the same period.
One Of the earliest clock makers in this coun-
try was Thomas Harlsnd, from London. who
arrived in Boston in 1773 in the skip from
which the tea was thrown over in Boston har-
Dor. He went at once to Norwich. Conn,
where he carried on the business until the time
Of his death, In 1907.
There stands at the top of the main stair
case Of the British Museum a most curious
clock, made in 1853, by Isaac Habrecht, one Of
the two ingenious brothers who made the
second famous clock at Strasburg. 1t is about
four feet in hight, and on the sides are figures
of the three Fates, Clotho, Lschesis, and Afro
pos On the top is bgure OF the cock of St.
Peter, which at the stroke of the hour flaps its
wings and crows The quarters are struck by
four figures, representing the ages Of man, and
the honr by figure of death. On lower bal
cony is a seated figure of the Virgin and Child
before whom passes a circle of angels who as
they are set in motion Ivy the striking q the
clock, are caused TO make an obeisance in front
Of the Virgin. Below this the gods of the days
of the week perform their circuit, each driving
In q chariot, while the disls on the lower stages
fulfil the more useful function of Indicating the
hour, the phases Of the moon, the fessts OF the
church, etc. The case is OF gilt copper with
well-engraved figures and ornamental designs.
One of the most celebrated clock makers was
Christopher Pinchbeck, known principally as
the discoverer OF an alloy Of metals, called after
him, " Pinchbeck," and as an inventor OF
"astronomico- ID usicsl clocks" When he
changed his place Of bus;ness in London early
In the lasi century he published the following
interesting card:
Notice is hereby given TO noblemen gentle.
men and others, that Chr. Pinchbeck, inventor
and maker OF the famous sstronom leo NJ ugicsl
clocks, is removed from ST. Georges Court, ST.
Jones' Lane, 10 the Sign of the astronomical
clock In Fleet street. near the Leg Tavern.
He maketh aud selleth watches of all sorts and
clocks, as well for the exact indication OF
time only, as astronomical, for showing the
various motions aud phenomeua OF planets and
fixed stars, solving At sight several astronomi-
cal problems, besides all this variety Of musical
performances, and that 10 the greatest nicely
OF time and tune with the usual graces. to-
RetheT with wonderful imitation Of several
songs and voices Of sviary of birds so nat
pTal that any who saw not the instrument
would be persuaded that IL were in reality what
IL only representa- de makes musical autom Ia
or instruments Of themselves. 10 play exceed
ingly well on the flute, 1aggelet or organ, sets
OF country dRnces. uiiDusts, jigs, and the opera
tunes, or the most perfect imitation Of the svi.
airy Of birds above mentioned, ct for the diver
sion Of those in places where a musician is not
at hand. he makes also organs perfornl ing oil
themselves Psalm tunes with two. three OF
more yoluntaries, very convenient for churches
in remote country places where organsis can.
mot be had or have sufficient encouragement
And bnRly he fnends watches and clocks in
Buch sort that they will perform to an exact
ness which possibly through defect in finish.
ing. or other accidents they formally could
mot"
Pinchbeck gold was much used for watch
eases and the like. ii is an alloy OF three part
OF zinc 10 four Of copper; but its composition
was jealousy guarded by the inventor.
There is story that the clock on ST. Pauls
London, on one occasion, struck l3 at mid
night, with the extraordinary result of savinj
the life Of q sentinel accused of sleeping at hi
post. One John Hatfield WAS tried by court
martial Oh a charge Of having fallen asleel