Evening journal., 1902-05-01
THE EN HOLM ELECTRIC CLOCK
New Application Of EIectricity-It Is Made
to Run for More Than Three Years
Without Winding

During the latter part of the nine
teenth century, electricity has been
applied in many ways to many things;
but one of the most radical changes
which it has ever made, of any de-
scription, seems to have taken place in
clock making. Until this year, clocks
were constructed on practically the
same principles as those of 100 years
ago. Even the clocks in offices and
factories synchronized by w. U. tele-
graph wires are run by a spring and
pendulum, and wound regularly. The
En- Holm clock. however, invented and
patented by Oscar A. En- Holm, and
manufactured by the Commercial Elec-
trio Time Company, of America, Homer
w. Hedge, president, with offices at
12O Broadway. New York, is a radical
departure from any form of clock now
on the market.
AS may be seen by the accompanying
illustration. the application of cleo
tricity is in supplying a motive power
In the place of the usual spring. In
the Dase of the clock. concealed from
view, are two sealed batteries
In the place of the spring and run
ing through the centre of an electro
magnet or solenoid is an armature in
the form of a rod composed ola magnetic
material. This core is ispended from
a lever which is connected TO the gear
train by means of a small ball clutch
guided by standards. The clock starts
with the core or armature at its highest
point, it's own weight carries it down
ward: and. as it descends, it pulls
down the lever with it, which has a
sliding motion. insuring uniform driv-
ing power, thus giving the driving
power to the regular machinery of
the clock.
Tie circuit of the magnetic or sole
mold coil is completed by the switch
shown above and to the right of the
core. 1t is composed of a glass bulb
to a pivot and moved
by the armature weight in
one end Of which are the twoI
wires not connected. In the bulb also
is a small quantity of mercury; and in
its ordinary position the wires are at
the top and the mercury at the bottom.
When the core reaches the lowest point
in its descent. it tips the bulb with
which IL is connected) until. the end
with the two wires is the lower. The
mercury completes the circuit, the cleo
tromagnet raises the core to its orig
inal height, and the bulb assumes its.
upright position again. thus discon-
Meeting the circuit By another in
genious device the driving power of
the core is not stopped while it is
being raised There is nothing to
wear in the mechanism. as the friction
is reduced to a minimum.
The weight takes five and fraction
minutes TO make the descent, and the
amount Of time necessary for the cleo
tricity to lift it is less than 1-3 of a
second. The capacity of the batteries
as stated above is 10 ampere hours or
36.O00,000 millampere seconds. Every
five and a half minutes the clock re-
ouires for 1-3 of a second $50 milli-
amDere- seconds. AS the electricity is
only in use during the 1-3 of a second
in which the core is being raised, il
follows. therefore, that the batteries
contain enough electricity to run the
clock for more than 5000 days. The
makers only guarantee is for three
years. however.
One important point in favor of this
clock is that it has no pendulum or
spring, it does away with THE necessity
of a perfectly horizontal base; and
helps to assure correct time.
The extraordinary clock will cost no
more than the spring driven clock in
the various styles Of cases, for all
purposes where accurate time is re-
duired.