The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-30
ANOTHER PROJECT
Francis {. Laverty Has a Good
Suggestion For Lighting the
City Hall Clock
A PRACTICAL AND
CHEAP METHOD
A Metal Disc on the Face of the
Clock and Arc or InGandeScent
Lights Are Needed

The problem of lighting the city hall
clock has reached point which is
nearest to solution. Francis e. Law
erty, a thorough student of mechanical
appliances and practical machnist,
in the employ of H. G. Barr & Co., 81
Union street. has stepped ahead of all
who have wrestled with the heretofore
battling problem.
Mr.. Laverty is modest about the
worth of his solution of the clock light
ing problem, but experts who have pom
dered over the project declare that his
ideas are the most practical of any
yet presented. and objection by the city
officials cannot result, as the plan is
the cheapest Of any yet offered.
1t is proposed to have disc of metal
erected on the face of the clock, the
disc to extend only to the inner edge
of the numerals The disc would be
attached to the mandrel or bushing
upon which the hour hand moves. Arc
or incandescent lights would furnish
the light, but Mr.. Layertys idea Of
utilizing the light is novel in itself. He
suggests that the movable dial be
raised from the surface of the clock
enough to allow the placing of lights
behind it. Directly
BEHIND THE HOUR HAND
a slot in the movable dial would be
placed. The electric lights from be-
hind would throw light through the
slot and tie hour hand would be ever
in sight.
The hour hand, of course, is much
the shorter and does not reach to the
in of Of
Light from behind reflected on the rear
of the movable disc, would cause a
circle Of light to be thrown from its
edges, on the figures Thus, hour
hand ana minute hand which would
project over the edge of the movable
dial, and directly into the ray Of light
constantly illuminating the figures on
the clock face, would be easily seen at
all times by pedestrians on Main
street.
The cost of fitting the movable disc
to the bushing upon which the hour
hand is fastened and which directs it's
course ever the face of the clock, would
cost about SIS. and the electric lighting
from behind the disc would be the only
permanent expense.
The inner side of the disc would be
covered with porcelain white paint such
as is used in bath as and brewery
watts The glossy finish would act as
a reflector for throwing the light to the
outer edges of the disc and on the fig
ures over which the minute hand
moves.
The disc would be painted gray, and
from the street would look as well as
the granite clock face now exposed
Mr.. Laverty said that attaching the
disc to the bushing from which the
hour hand extends
WOULD NOT IMPAIR THE CLOCK
as timekeeper There would be no
more danger Of the disc becoming
clogged during heavy fall of snow
than there is at the present time of
the course of the clock hands being
blocked by snow. Such an event oc-
ours occasionally during heavy spow or
sleet storms, but the solution pfesent-
ed by Mr.. Laverty seems simpler, more
practical and cheaper than projects re-
sulting from experiments of electrical
and other experts, according to practi-
cal men to whom Mr.. Laverty has ex-
hibited his plans.
Mr.. Laverty is about % years old,
and is a r-ember of Machinists' Union.
In affairs relating to improvement of
educational conditions of his fellow
workmen. he has been prominent since
the organization of the union. He has
made study Of. mechanical problems,
and has introduced many novelties at
the machine shcp where he is employed
which have proven both practical and
moderate in Lice. OF the electrical
side of the lighting problem, he claims
to know nothing, but he believes that
cost of maintenance of light would be
no more than the regular prices of
lights