The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28

SOME WONDERFUL CLOCKS.
The worid's Mnrveis OF Astronomical ana
Chronometrio Mechanism.

From Tt.Bis.
OF course every Briton has heard at one lime
or other OF tho famous clock tower adjoining
the houses Of Parliament. No doubt he imag-
ines 1t to be a very fine structure, and, as q mat
ter OF fact. 1t is regarded as the best specimen in
our country; but there are many more wonder
full clocks in existence to-day, perhaps not in
size, but certainly in their skilful mechanism.
The most wonderful clock in The world is ex-
hibited in st. Petersburg. Its magnifcence
may be imagined from tho fact Of this colossal
timepiecc having no fewer than ninety'hve
faces. 1t indicates simultaneously the time OF
day at thirty points on the earth's surface, be-
sides the movement Of the earth around the
sun. the phases Of the moon. the signs of the
zodiac. the passage over the meridian OF more
than fifty stars OF the northern hemisphere, and
the date, according to the Gregorian. Greek.
Mussulman. and Hebrew calendars. The works
took two years to put together after the clock
had been sent in detached pieces from Switzcr-
land to Russia.
A certain matchmaker constructed a clock
whose mechanism represents. every fifteen min
utes. oil the activities OF a miniature railway
station. The telegraph operator sends a de-
spatch. the doors Of the station open. the sta
ton master and his assistant appear on the
steps, the clerks open the windows and distTib,
ute the tickets; several travellers rush, toward
the train that comes in at full speed. In short,
until the train has gone the usual stir OF such
stations Is exactly reproduced.
As the train leaves each returns
to Its place, ana for q quarter OF an hour every
thing Is peaceful. The clocks dimensions are
not known, but 1t Is said to have had six years
labor expended upon 1t.
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. sea:
sons. years and leap years to the last second OF
nomical. geographical, and historical facts.
There is a celebrated clock tower at Bcrnc, in
Switzerland. The approach of the hour is an
nounced by the growing Of a cock. AT the same
time may be seen at the very top OF the tower a
man clad in q coat OF mail striking the hours
are striking a troupe of bears mako their APP
pearance and parade around the tower. then
make their exit. Long strings OF carriages
draw up every hour for the occupants to wit
ness this interesting spectacle.
A gigantic clock. made OF cycle parts, was
shown at n recent exhibition held in Paris. Tho
hour figures are composed of brightly plated
cranks. All the smaller wheels revOlve by
means of gear chains, but this was only for at.
traction. Tho clock kept excellent time. and
struck hours. half and quarter hours. the real
mechanism being concealed in the base.
At the time of the coronation of the Empress
of Russia at Moscow in 1874 she was presented
with n watch rs wonderful in every particular
as the famous Strasbourg clock. On the opposite
side Of the housekeeping part there was an exact
counterpart OF the holy sepulchre, with n carved
image of the Roman guard, the scene being
viewed through tho. glass in the case. Upon
opening the case the imitation stones would roll
away from the mouth OF tho miniature sepulChre,
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
worked upon 1t almost uninterruptedly for u
period of nine years.