The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-03
SOME WONDERFUL CLOCKS
The Worlds Maryels of Astronomical and
Chronometric Mechanism.
(From Tit }

vi course every BflbOn mas heard at one
time or other of the famous clock tower
adjoining the houses of Parliament. Nc
doubt he imagines it to be very fine
structure, and, as "a matter of fact, it Ii
| regarded as the best specimen in oul
country; but there are many more won
derful clocks in existence today, perhaps
not in size, but certainly in their skilful
| mechanism.
The most wonderful clock in tho world
is exhibited in St. Petersburg. It's mag
nifcence may be imagined from the fact
of this colossal timepiece having no fewer
than ninety five faces. 1t indicates stimuli
taneously the time of day at thirty points
on the earth s surface, besides the move
ment Of the earth around the sun. the
phases Of the moon, the signs Of the
zadiao, the pas sage over the meridian of
more than fifty stars of the norther hem
isphere, and the date, according to the
Gregorian. Greek. Mussulman, and He
brew calendars. The works took two
years to put together after the clock had
been sent in detaehed pieces from Swift
zerland to Russia
A certain MATCHMAKER constructed a
clock .Fvfoss nleohanism represents. every
fiIteen sAinutes, all the activities of a
nj iatnre railway station. The teleg rsph
operator sends despeatch, the doors of
the Station open, the station master an d
his-assistant appear on the steps, the
clerks open the windows and distribute
the tickets several travellers rush toward
the train that comes in at full speed.
In snort, until the train has gone the
usual stir of such stations is exactly re-
produced.
AS the train leaves each automaton re-
turns to It's place, and for a quarter of an
hour everything is peaceful The clock $
dimensions are not known, but it is said
to have had six years labor expended
upon it.
Another remarkable clock is that made
by Villingen, the clockmaker of the Black
Forest, Germany. 1t shows the seconds,
minutes quarter hours, hours, days
weeks, months, seasons, years and leap
years to the last second of the year $685.
besides host of other astronomical, geo
graphical and historical facts.
There is celebrated clock tower at
Borne, in Switzerland. The approach of
the hour is announced by the Growing of
cock. At.the same time may be seen at
the very top of the tower a man Glad in "A
coat of mail striking the hours with his
sword on a large bell. AS the hours are
striking q troupe Of bears mako their ap-
pe9rance and parade around the tower.
then make their exit. Long strings of
carriages draw up every hour for the &C.
cupants to witness this interesting specta-
Gle.
A gigantic clock, made of Cycle parts.
was shown at recent exhibition held in
Paris. The hour figures are composed of
brightly plated cranks. All the smaller
wheels revolve by means of gear chains.
but this WAS only for attraction. The
clock kept excellent time, and struck
hours, half and quarter hours, the real
mechanism being conceded in the base.
At the time of the coronation of the
Empress of Russia at Moscow in 1924 she
was presented with a watch as wonderful
in every particular as the famous Stras
bourg clock. On the opposite side of the
time keeping part. there was an exact
counterpart of the holy sepulchre, with a
carved image of the Roman guard. the
scene being viewed through the glass in
the case. Upon opening the case the imi
tation stones would roll away from fine
| mouth of the miniature sepulchre, the
guard kneel, angels appear at opposite
sides of the opening, and at this time the
music would begin to play, in soft, sweet
strains, the Easter songs so we'll known
to all Russians. The watch only weighed
seven ounces. The maker of this wonder.
full piece of mechanism is said to have
worked upon it almost uninterruptedly
for period of nine years.