Time and Time-TellersBenson, James W., active 1857-1887
Philosophy
Time and Time-Tellers
Benson, James W., active 1857-1887
Clocks and watches
One was erected recently upon the new principle, of which the cost was
something under £5000, including 12 bells weighing from five to seven
cwt. each, clock, architect's charges, gas-fitting, and £1200 for
timber-trussing, floors, &c. The Carillon machine is let off by the
clock and plays seven times on the ringing peal of bells, but is
adapted to play twenty-eight tunes on fifteen bells. It is wound up
every morning and plays eight times in twenty-four hours, _i_. _e_.
once every three hours, giving the tune on each occasion three times,
and occupying about four minutes in doing so. At the expiration of the
24 hours the tune changes involuntarily, and of course with seven
tunes there is one for each day in the week. The Carillon machinery is
connected with the clock and set in motion thereby, by a lever which
at three hours' intervals dislodges a pin and allows the weights, 14
cwt. each, to act upon the machinery, the speed being easily
regulated, as in clockwork, by revolving vanes. The barrels are five
feet long, by one foot in diameter, and are studded with brass pins
like that of a musical box. When the bells are required to be rung, a
bar is turned down on the keys which prevents the motion of the
machinery for any length of time that the ringing is to be continued.
Notwithstanding that the twenty-six hammers weigh from 2 cwt. to 70lbs
each, it is possible that the tunes could be played by means of an
ivory keyboard, as in a church organ, and with almost as much ease and
facility.
Persons requiring to know the cost of a Church or Turret Clock should
furnish the Clockmaker with the following data:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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