The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
OUR CLOCKS AND LAMPS.
THEY ARE THE BBsT THAT THIS
WORLD AFFORDS.

That Cheap Enropsan Labor Cas- Produce
Our mig Lamp Trade ana the Lamp undustry.
Clock making is an old-fashionod Yankee In
dustry. but in the earlier days, when clocks and
wooden nutmegs were supposed to be among the
chief products OF Connecticut, the Theological
attachments OF America were crude and in-
significant compared with the splendid develop
ment reached in the closing years Of the cen
fury. To-day the United States excel any other
country in the production Of clocks. This state
ment is true as to the number manufactured,
and It Ia not far out 81 the way as to the quality
and character of the timepieces produced.
There Is a considerable importation Of fancy or
namental clocks from France and England. but
there is also a very large export trade In the
clocks OF American make. The largest clock
mandatory in the world is in Brooklyn, where
1900 artisans are engaged In turning out all
grades and styles, from the small nickel clock
that rctails at 55 cents up to the latest and most
artistic design in glldod bronze, ianked with
candelabra, and costing 800.
In the leading jowclry house Of New York and
OF the world may be seen two Of the most Inn
portant astronomical clocks in the world. Both
Of these clocks-one held at $4,000 and the other
Mt 81, %OOo-were made In New York. They are
known as the Globe clock and the Louis XIV.
Astronomical clock. and both were among the
high.class mechanical and scientific achieve
mcnts that reflected credit upon America Mt tho
Worlds Fair four years ago. The Globe clock Ii
in the form OF n globe. and besides being an ac-
curatc chart Of the worlds surface 1t Is an In
t~eresting piece OF astronomical and chronology
ical mechanism. The globe and casing of the
works are OF sterling silver. The lower part,
which contains tho movements, represents a
temple of classic form suggested by the
Roman Pantheon. Below the twelve pill
lars cncirclinR the temple and emblem
attic OF the months are marked the Ro-
man numerals, upon which a hand indicates
the time OF day. On the roof Of the temple over
the pillars are the signs of the zodiac and the
names Of the months. Here another hand re-
wolves. indicating the calendar month. The
globe revolves on an axis over the roof. the lines
which indicate the geographical divisions being
chased upon an enamel of atmospheric blue.
Circling around the globe on the line of the
equator is n silver band inscribed with the
twcnty-,our hours. and tho time OF day on any
part Of the globe can be told at a glance.
There Is another time indicator in the form OF
a sun dial heavily Rildcd on silver. This is
mounted upon a lever extending from the axis,
and upon II the sun declines north and south OF
the equator according to the time OF year.
Upon another lever extending from the axis is
a small sphere representing the moon, and this,
in addition to revolving so as to show the
phases OF the moon, makes another revolution
completely around the globe every month. The
globe Is fourteen inches In diameter, and the
clock complete. from the Mexican onyx base to
the crown OF the silver owl. emblcmatic Of wis
dom, on the top, stands about thirty inches high.
Every part of tho clock was made In New York,
and It represents almost every type OF modern
silversmithing. including modelling. spinning.
casting, chasing. etching, engraving. and enam-
Cling. Nearly two years labor was required TO
complete 1t. The price Is $3, 900.
The Louis XIV. clock stands eight feet high in
n case OF SouthAmcrican amaranth richly carved,
and its front and side panels are inlaid with
varieties OF Comiko wood. Including the cycles,
zodiacs, and calendars there are in all twenty
Eve silver and enamclled dials with gilt rims
mounted in a California pearl frame. On the
upper dial the sun and moon are shown in their
apparent positions, with the sky in the back
ground. Below these, in a line OF the horizon, is
a representation of the sea indicating the tide at
all hours. Two other dials follow. The right
one is a perpetual calendar showing the signs Of
year. The dial on the lett side is a disk divided
into twenty.fopr parts, or moridians and degrees
the principal cities OF the world marked
on this dial, while another revolving plate
R i1s5Set sse tse t hSss s% Si fn Sis ar nI,sshlt ct s sss 2s saae e
iindeRebn sis &c ,b and d, the a, Julian ian period Der oibo On G,s the
which indicate the equation OF time, or differ
ence In the sun and mean time, the chronolog.
ical cycles, one having the golden number and
local time. Washington time, Greenwich time,
the sun. and the declination of the moon. One
OF the wheels gauging tho declination Of the
This makes maTssI 3ne re niecs y, IN ma nineteen years Ma:
planned, designed, and executed in New York at
acost of IS 900; 1t Is well worthy to rank with
artisan, after almost a lifetime OF labor in pro-
dueinE the mechine, was deprived of his eye
In the wider range Of clocks for ordinary use
the United States are not less pre-eminent. The
tention to the more elaborate and costly types
which arc sent over from France. and England,
but they are rapidly advancing along the line of
artistic form and development, and are turning
out some very beautiful shapes and designs. It
is too much to expect, that the large clock fac
example, 'tG the Louis XVI. set, V With clock,
enamel. price . 900. shown, in the clock
department Of q leading Broadway jeweller;
81 BE 'h Mounted alpse df%i n bPo Siosk and in rG siit' @ snihafiH an Ras.
yet made Elm! in America Anne Ie1.r bu, from II the Brooklyn
choice and artistic designs. Extremely delicate
and graceful are the ornamental gilt CLOCKS with
81 to si55; the tall clocks for hail purposes. va;
America has taken The lead in shapes" - said
the manager of a large wholesale establishment
In Cliff street, and II imitation is the sincerest
%tlattory we ought to feel greatly f%iattered. for
Germany is constantly initiating and reproduc-
ing clock forms which originate over in Brook
Ign. These are cheap and poor limitations. how
ever. and, do not trouble US much: Made in
Germany Is not n good recommendation for q
clock. On the contrary 1t means cheap labor
and cheap finish. They do not compete with us
In the essential quality of correct timekeepinH,
for they do not take the pains that American
clockmakers take. GeImany,,s MOTIF, is cheap
ness, and quality suffers. We hold our own
against, Europe not only In the home market,
but in the export trade. Clocks made right at
our own doors are sent in large quantities to
Great Britain France. Australia; India, China.
alarm clock OF nickel finish that retails for
seyenty:nine cents at home has gained a foot
hold all over the civilized world. There is
nothing made in this line anywhere in tho world
1.-THE United States have gained their pre-
eminence In clock making as a result Of keen
competition with the cheaper labor Of Europe.
In Germany. for example. wages are little moro
than one-third Of what are paid ip this country,
and Germany, through her excellent consular
service, 10 able to make goods that will suit the
- Ill L. lA L.