Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-01-12
FACTS ABOUT OLD CLOCKS.
Suggested by the Sight Of An Ancient
TIneplece,

Se6ESohsS ~ shS St6's f'''
Tlmeplece.
A fine old timepiece Is on exhibition
temporarily in Reading, Pa. It stands
majestically back of plate glass win
dow-a real, though not an apparent
obstacle-eight and halt feet In
height, massive, but Of perfect sym
metry and without q suggestion OF
bulk. It was constructed about LOO
years ago by Ziegler of Allentown, Pa.
The mechanism came from Germany
and the pipe organ with which IT ls
equipped from Switzerland. The cyl
inders that are part Of Its musical
equipment are wooden and an in
disputable index OF its antiquity, since
these have not been made for century
and half. They are contained In
mahogany cabinet, about one yard
square, the wood being the same as
that of the clock.
Above the dial stand forth the fig
ures of an orchestra, pompous coliec-
tion of musicians, each holding the In
strument he plays. Surmounting these
automata is the significant inscription:
"Abreise, Quentin Durwerd."
The orchestration occurs every half
hour, when, instead of the usual one
bell, delicious and quaint airs flood the
apartment. Eyes as well as ears are
delighted as the musicians above the
dial raise their instruments into proper
position, make all the motions OF per-
forming and then drop them to their
sides again. Each instrument can be
recognized in the ensemble, and the
delightful effect Is better imagined
than described.
Thirty-two airs constitute the mag
nificent repertoire, which Is presented
on vellum in old German and quantity
framed, making most attractive fea-
ture. No more artistic environment
for this work of art could be suggested
than to remain in the possession Of the
last representative of the family that
originally owned It. Yet eyes have
looked wistfully and plethoric purses
offered their seductive contents at this
impossible shrine.
It may be consolation to reflect the
grear Caesar was not fortunate in the
matter of timekeepers. A water clock
marked the flight Of his imperial time.
It Is interesting to note in the progress
Ct clock-making from that crude state
wherewith Caesar was doubtless con-
tent, to the highly complex and ap-
parently perfect system now IN use,
that the heavenly bodies were usually
represented. Those landmarks In the
history Of clock-making, whose i'm
portance has led to their preservation,
either in chronicle or in fact, show
this comprehensiveness of effort.
The celebrated clock in the famous
cathedra, at Strasburg describes the
motions of the planets. A clock pre-
sented to Frederick II. by Saladin in
the thirteenth century marked not
only. the hours. but also the course OF
the sun and moon and planets. A
clock made by an English abbott in the
fourteenth century indicated in addi-
ton to these the ebb and food tides.
In the eighteenth century German
who invented astronomical clocks cor
ceived the still more comprehensive
idea of measuring time in its whole
extent. A hand Of universal history
indicates principal epochs of history in
the Old Testament and the great
events of the future founded on the
Apocalypse. Eight thousand years
were embraced in the revolutions. A
century hand marks the year of the
century and makes the circuit in 100
years. This clock also represents the
motions of the planets, and they make
their revolutions in the same time and
manner that they actually do in the
heavens. The heavenly orbs alone
were consulted for marking the pass
age of time when no other method
was known.