The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-11
THIS CLOCK Is A MARvEL.
rtronosnfc Tfmepiece the Work of a
 BInck Forest Genius.

Black Forest Genius.
 A clock which is in many respects one of the most notable in the world has been constructed after five years of hard labor by August Noll, skilled mechanic of Villingen. one of the old and picturesque cities of the German Schwarzwald and the former capital of the province of Baar, which came into the possession of Baden in 1906. The people of this region are dtlligent and talented and the making of clocks has beea for 200 years a native indus try among them.
 Those first made were wooden clocks with a sort Of balance and were sim pie in construction. Gradually the work grew in perfection and the pen dulum clock took the place of the balance: in still later times came me- tallic clocks with mainsprings; until TOW the most elaborate and artisti- caIly designed timepieces of every kind are sent all over the world, into the humble dwellings of the middle classes and the palaces of the veal thy.
 The astronomical clock finished by August Noll almost surpasses in iE- Renuity of construction, variety Of mechanism and number of figures not only the famous clocks of Prague and Goslar. but even the renowned mas terpiece of Isaac Habrecht, the won- der of the Strasburg cathedral.
 It is at present on exhibition in Munich and it is unlikely that 1t will ever be permitted to leave that city. The case. of walnut wood. about four- teen feet high. twelve feet wide and three feet deep. Is fashioned ia the fern of church of the early renais- Sance style, of harmonious design and pleasing to the aesthetic sense. The calendar mechanism, rollers. chimes. striking works. etc, are arranged to work for 100 years.
 During a whole century the clock will show not only the seconds, min utes, quarter hours and hours. but al- so the movable festivals or the Chris tan year. The different days and sea- cons are introduced by appropriate fig u=es. skillfuliy carved, accompanied by music. with bugle solos and watch mems horns. or with cock crow and cuckoo calls.
 The center is occupied by an artis- tically decorated and illuminated chap el. whose doors open every morning at o'clock and bring to View a com gregation of worshipers nthe Schwarz schld costume who file past the altar amid the strains of a choral
 Once every hour the figure of Death appears at the left side wing, and fig ures representing the four ages of man EaSS Dy nm. AL the same tune Lii6 twelve apostles are seen passing before the figure of Christ in an attitude of blessing. At the right of tho portaI aL owe is an idealized representation of the four seasons, and beneath morn ing and evening six C'apuchin monks march slowly, to the accompaniment of chimes and the chords of choral. from their forest hermitage, 10 the church.
 The time is marked on the clock face in the upper part of the central space. not by ordinary hands but by figures which spring out at the prop CT moment, and two angels strike the changes on melodious bells. Below. as if in the side aisles of the church, the strong and carefully constructed me- chanism Is visible in action. At tho foot is an astronomical tellurium and at the gables of the side wings two large faces show the time in Calcutta and New York. as compared with the central European time.
 The whole structure weighs 5.200 pounds and is valued at 50,000 marks. Most interesting and original. it ex- hibits the great intelligence and in- ventive gifts and the wonderful per severance of ts maker.