Time Telling through the AgesBrearley, Harry Chase
History
Time Telling through the Ages
Brearley, Harry Chase
Clocks and watches -- History; Time measurements
_de Vick's_—In 1364 Henry de Vick set up a clock in the tower of the
palace for Charles V. It was regulated by a balance. The teeth of the
crown wheel acted upon two small levers called pallets which projected
from and formed part of an upright spindle or staff on which was fixed
the balance. The clock was regulated by shifting the weights placed at
each end of the balance. On the bell of this clock the signal for the
massacre of St. Bartholomew's was struck.
_Dondi's at Pavia_—Built in 1344, by James Dondi, similar to
Wallingford's clock.
_Exeter_—A clock built in Exeter Cathedral sometime in the 14th
century. One erected there in 1480 has the sun—a fleur-de-lis which
points out the hours as it revolves around a globe representing the
earth. A black and white ball represents the moon's phases by turning
on its axis.
_Frederick II_—The Saladin of Egypt presented Frederick II of Germany
with a clock in the year 1232. It resembled internally, a celestial
globe, in which figures of the sun, moon, and other planets moved
impelled by weights and wheels. There were also the twelve signs of the
Zodiac which moved with the firmament.
[Illustration]
_Hans von Jena's_—An old clock in Saxony at the top of which is a very
ugly head. As the clock strikes a pilgrim offers an apple on a stick
to the open mouth and then withdraws it. At the same time an angel
opposite the pilgrim raises her eyes from her book. The legend goes
that Hans von Jena, for a crime, was condemned to undergo such torture
for three centuries.
_Jefferson's_—An old weight clock in which the weights are carried over
a pulley and made to indicate the day of the week by their position.
This is in the hallway at Monticello.
_Lists and Descriptions of_—See Curiosities of Clocks and Watches, E.
J. Wood. Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers, F. J. Britten. Old
Clock Book, N. H. Moore.
[Illustration]
_Vase Clocks of Marie Antoinette_—The movement was inclosed in a marble
pedestal. About the beautifully tinted porcelain urn was a double band,
on which were marked the numerals and which revolved every twelve
hours. A serpent with head erect pointed to the hour.
[Illustration]
_Mary, Queen of Scots_—Skull Watch or Clock. A small clock in the
form of a skull said to have been given by Mary, Queen of Scots, to
Mary Seaton, one of her maids of honor. The skull is of silver gilt
and is engraved with figures of Death, Time, Adam and Eve, and the
Crucifixion. The lower part of the skull is pierced to emit the sound
when it strikes, being cut in the form of emblems of the Crucifixion.
The works occupy the brain's position in the skull fitting into a
silver bell which fills the entire hollow of the skull. The hours are
struck on this bell by a small hammer on a separate train.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account