The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35 — John Shaqi
The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35Bedini, Silvio A.
History
The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35
Bedini, Silvio A.
Astronomical clocks
[Illustration: Figure 33.--FIFTEEN-DAY STRIKING CLOCK SKETCH, inscribed
"Design No. 3," found in Bertolla's workshop. (_Courtesy of Museo
Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica, Milan._)]
[Illustration: Figure 34.--DIAL PLATE of a brass lantern clock made by
Bertolla at the age of 80. (_Courtesy of Museo Nazionale della Scienza e
della Tecnica, Milan._)]
[Illustration: Figure 35.--MOVEMENT of brass lantern clock produced by
Bertolla at the age of 80, showing details of movement and double bell.
(_Courtesy of Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica, Milan._)]
One of the most interesting of Bertolla's clocks, and probably the last
one which he produced, was found in his workshop. This timepiece
indicates the hours, minutes and quarters by means of a single hand or
index. The weight-driven clock strikes the hours and quarters on two
bells with a single hammer. The chapter ring, which is soldered to the
dial plate, is marked for the minutes on the outer rim and for the four
quarters inside it. Over the center of it, is a semicircular opening in
the dial plate through which is visible a revolving disk attached behind
the dial plate. This disk is marked with the hours and revolves from
right to left, the current hour being indicated by a projection from the
minute ring. The brass dial plate is engraved with simple floral
designs in the corners and around the broken arch. There is no
comparison between this crude and simple decoration and the extremely
fine quality of the engraving on the dial plate of the Borghesi clock,
for instance. In the center of the dial plate is engraved the following:
"Questo orologio l'ideai e lo feci nella mia avanzata eta
d'anni 80. Bart^{o} Ant^{o} Bertolla"
(I designed and made this clock at my advanced age of 80 years.
Bartolomeo Antonio Bertolla.)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] BORGHESI, _Novissimum Theorico-Practicum Astronomicum Authoma Juxta
Pariter Novissimum Mundi Systema..._, pp. 8-9.
[2] WENHAM, "Tall Case Clocks," p. 33.
[3] VON BERTELE, "The Development of Equation Clocks," parts 1 through
5.
[4] ENGELMANN, _Philipp Matthaeus Hahn_; VISCHER, _Beschreibung
mechanischer Kunstwerke..._.
[5] LLOYD, _Some Outstanding Clocks Over Seven Hundred Years,
1250-1950_, pp. 116, 118, 120.
[6] SAN CAJETANO, _Praktische Anleitung fuer Kuenstler..._.
[7] FRANCH, _La Valle di Non_.
[8] BONOMI, _Naturalisti, Medici e Tecnici Trentini_, p. 16
[9] AMBROSI, _Scrittori ed Artisti Trentini_, pp. 132, 525.
[10] Ibid.
[11] PIPPA, "Antonio Bartolomeo Bertolla," pp. 22-23.
[12] Ibid., p. 22.
[13] Ibid., p. 23.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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