Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1900-02-02
A CURIOUS CLOCK


ANllANuan
Probably the most novel clock in
the country is one now in The posses
sion Of G. Il. Moore, master mechanic
ofthe Chicago City Railway company.
It IS SO curious, ia fact, that the OBJ
server is tempted to say it is not a
clock at all, but a mechanical hour
glass. However, it contains some
thing resembling clock mechanism,
and was once used for telling time, so
that lis claims to being called clock
can hardly be disputed. But it is GER
tainly an unusual timepiece.
The clock is unquestionably Of
Chinese or japanese workmanship,
though a Chinese friend Of Mr.. Moore
SAYS such clocks are as rare in China
or Japan as in this country. Mr..
Moore found it in a junk shop on
South Clark street, so far gone into
decay that its original form and mis-
sion could scarcely be told. lie
bought it for a few cents, took it home
and devoted his leisure moments for
weeks restoring it. The results Of
his labor and mechanical skill are evil
dent in the finish and almost new look
of the clock atpresent.
The clock is made of mahogany
principally, and is not over Is inches
long and %. inches square. At the
top there is a little glass case -four
inches long, where one would ordi-
narily expect the face to be. There j;
no face there, however, or at least nc
time-telling face. Instead there is
representation in brass of a jar full
Of flowers, which supports and con
ceals the works behind. The face, il
there is such a thing, on the clock
extends all down the front, the houI
marks being placed one below the
other. A small brass pointer move.
up and down past these hour marks
The pointer is attached 10 leaC
weight, which is raised to the top Of
the marks, and then gradually drop:
to the bottom, moving past a mari
each hour. The weight thus really
tells the time.
OF course the clock must be wound
again at once when the weight
reaches the bottom, or else time vii
be lost in the record. This IS just th'
same necessity as .exists inIturning al
hour glass when the last Of the sane
runs down. Only 24 marks are OF
| the front of thee clock, so each 10 hour
the clock must be rewoun6, just OF
the minute, in orderto insure keeping
even approximate time. The littl
hour marks are curious halfEng1isl
and half-Chinese characters, running
4 from one to six twice over A eros
serves for the figure four.
The works are made Of hrass, ant
are comparatively modern soolcing
though clock mechanism is of al
dates and nations. They consist Of
lttlodrum on whichaeatgut attached
to the lead weight is wound, al
escapemont, and two or three wheels
| Under Mr.. Moore's slillful repairing
the clock has been induced to run
though it is far from keeping accu
rate time as yet
Mr.. Moore is seeking information
as tothe date and history of his clock
His best belief now is that the cl0el
is one of three or four in existence
and was made in China many year
ago. Heihinks it was brought to thi
country by an immigrant as por
lion of his household effects, and wa
finally pawned and sold. After knock
ing about in the secondhand store
and junk shops it came under the no
tice Of llr. Moore, and was rescued
Golden DAYS.