Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-12-17
A WONDERFUL CLOCK
Ohio Man Perfects Most Interesting
Electrical Timepiece.
Mechanical Achievement That Has
No Equal In the MOrId-Usefal
Features of the "EIeetricaI
wonder

AteI hOlhilb ten lOuir a Aa9 IN . q
years, most OF which time his right arm
was useless because Of an accident
Marvin Shearer has perfected what Is
probably the most interesting electric
clock in the world. says an Akron (o)
report 10 the Philadelphia North Amer
lean.
Mr.. Shearer is a scenic artist. -Four
years ago he began planning the clock,
and to-day he was able to announce 70
his friends that be had finished it. He
was greatly handicapped in his work,
and the obstacles he surmounted would
have discouraged most men.
Some time ago Mr.. Shearer was paint
ing at a factory. where he was caught
in line shafting and injured so badly
that he lay in the city hospital five
weeks semieonscious. While conya-
lescing. he planned many details Of the
clock, and after leaving the institution
began work upon it. His right hand
was almost useless, but he was assisted
by his wife.
The clock is called the Electric Won
der" 1t is IL feet four inches high, four
feet four inches wide. and 20 inches
deep. and weighs $50 pounds. One large
dial gives standard time. while directly
under II is dial which shows the
changes Of the moon and gives the gov
eminent weather report "a hours in ad-
vance
By watching the clock one can see
handsome pictures of the ships in the
United States navy pass behind a glass
The ships are arranged according to
their speed, and the effect is pleasing.
The history OF Christ is shown from
the nativity TO the aseension-the last
supper, betrayal. crueifxion, the resur-
rection, and ascension, by pictures
painted by the inventor and illuminated.
One of the most interesting features
Of the clock is a miniature Niagara
falls, with real water tumhling down.
the color Of which appears to change.
Just below the cataract is an electric
fountain and an arch. arranged to pro-
duee a beautiful effect.
Flags appear on a staff near the CEN
ter, and in front of the dial, and indicate
the kind of weather expected "a hours n
advance. The Interpretation Of the flag
appears on the calendar dial simultane-
ously with the appearance of the flag.
The weather reports are produced by
thermometer, a hyrometer, a spirit level
and a compass.
The history Of the United States. from
the landing of Columbus to the present
time is shown by 90 paintings. which
are attached to a ribbon 10s feet long,
and moved by electricity.
When the clock strikes the hour the
figures Of Uncle Sam and the Goddess
of Liberty pass out of an electric ele-
vator on one side of the miniature Nj
agara falls. walk through a gate, down
a stairway, around the base of the cata-
ract and the electric fountain to the OPP
posite side. Here they ascend another
stairway and enter another elevator
These figures appear to be Of flesh and
blood, and walk without being attached
to any wires.
An illuminated picture on one side
shows the Delaware river full Of ice.
with Washington crossing with his
army.
The battleship Maine also appears in
three pictures. One shows her in Havana
harbor before the explosion which
wrecked her, one the explosion scene.
and the other the wreck after the ex-
plosion.
On the back of the clock the Lords
Prayer is given. inlaid with s12 pieces
of wood. The portraits of American po-
cts. musicians, and all the presidents
also appear on the back The portraits
are all in motion. and travel at the rate
Of rs feet a minute.
Pictures of the martyred presidents.
Garfield and Mckinley, are ex-
hibited, and at the hour of death of
each the lights illuminate the face for
five minutes, and a phonograph gives
the inaugural address of the dead states
man and plays the music rendered at
he funeral.
The base Of the clock contains all the
electrical appliances. which are self
There are $40 feet of electric
wire used in its construction and 80 feet
Of pipes to provide water for the falls. |
There are also 412 electrical connec-
tons.
The Electric Wonder" has useful fea-
-ures, During the summer it can be ar
ranged to operate an electric fan. and in |
he winter months it can be fixed to |
light gas stove. There is also burglar
alarm attachment, which will show the |
number Of the door or window being en-
tered. besides Illuminating the room
and sounding alarms, eight in number.
storms of Old England.