The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-08
A MARVEL IN CLOCKS
WONDERFUL INVENTION BY
 GERMAN. WATCHMAKER.
Long Years of Foil Expended Before the Task Was Completed-Finds No Purchaser-Hundred Mov-
 able Pictures and Figures.

A poor German watchmaker has just achieved wonderful work of ingenuity and art, consisting of an astronomical and calendar clock, says The London Telegraph. Twenty-four years ago he was fired to attempt the task by study of that famous horological mon ument at Strasburg Cathedral. He i'm mediately began to execute his design to excel even the surprising piece of ingenuity For nineteen years he de- voted all his tIne to the project At one time, his means being of the scan tiest character, he had no alternative but to sell by degrees everything he could spare. His wife, being extremely indignant at the procedure, brought her complaints before the local magistrate He promised her his help. being convinc- ed that a mans mind must be deranged who thought he could make an astronomi- cal calendar clock even surpassing that of Strasburg. His mental activity and financial and domestic troubles told upon the patient worker, and at last his friends declared him insane. At the thought of parting from his clock he became more excited. He was forthwith put into a straight waistcoat and sent to lunatic asylum. At length he managed to regain his liberty, on the understanding that he remained under police surveillance. He found that his home was no place for him. so he journeyed to Carlsruhe (Ba- den) taking the clock and his tools with him. In this town he obtained, with the assistance of privy councillor free board and lodgings at the permanent in- dustrial exhibition. After stay of eigh- teen months he lost this place of refuge and fled with his work by night to his son in Switzerland. In Carlsruhe he had been able to make some small savings, and a few friends gave him assistance The German Emperor, though his Majes- ty thought his task hopeless, sent him sum of money. At last the clock, however was finished. but the construc- tor had no funds for the case. On this occasion, a parish priest came forward with generous and unsefish help and the project was completed.
 Wonderful Mechanism.
 It Is claimed that this clock is as won derful for it's artistic beauty and work manship as for it's ingenious mechanical arrangements. It is inclosed within glass, so that its every every movement can be seen. It consists of 2.200 parts, 112 of which are wheels. Every detail Is the watchmaker's own handiwork. The clock indicates the seconds. minutes, hours dates, the days of the week, months aTu the SedSODS Ol tHe year, lHS pictures of the signs of the zodiac, the sun, moon and stars. and the rising and setting, as well as the exact position of the celes tia bodies. It shows, besides the moon phases all the eclpses of the sun and moon. Its calendar. it Is urged, will last forever, with minute accuracy. At the beginning of the year it fixes itself the statements of the astronomical prac- titioners in expla nation of the everlasting calendar, as well as Easter, and the changeable festival days for the coming year glass ball. representing the spherical globe exactly shows the move ments and positions of the planest Mer- cury Venus, Earth and Moon, Mars, Ju- piter, Saturn. Uranus
 Pictures and Figures.
 The work is beautified by over a hun dred movable pictures and figures Every quarter of an hour the figure of a guard ian angel appears on the left side os the principal field. The striking of the quarters is done by two angels, standing in the second recess on the left while in the sixth recess two figures at time, representing the four ages of men, are changing alternately. On the right side of the principal field the Angel of Death advances, pointing with his scythe to the dial plate. When the full hour strikes the center angel of the second recess appears. holding an hour glass, whilst the angel on the right side above Is sounding a trumpet. Under roof an ale sorical figure represents symbOlically the right season of the year. whilst above in the principal field. the guiding star of the year appears. On the left side of the cabinet stands cock, which. five min utes before noon, beats it's wings, stoops it's neck. opens its beak and crows three times.
 When the picture shows Spring there appears cuckoo above; with the season summer a quail comes forth on the left side, both calling seven times When the picture Autumn" appears, a bull lying at the feet of the Evangelist St Luke roars and when Winter" is indi- cated, lion which lies close to St. Mark raises its voice. Every time the clock strikes twelve, Christ, bending His head, appears with His twelve apostles, and a monk. standing in the portal below, rings his Ave"
 The work contains also a small chime, which plays, five minutes after the strik- ing of an even" hour, the melodies changg and each lasting one minute. This work has twelve little bells. and on the roller there are 997 pins, which make the music.
 Now that this patient worker hes fin ished his task he has been unable to find any one to buy it from him.