HOROLOGICAL EXHIBITION

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 8

HOROLOGICAL EXHIBITION

ANCIENT AND MODERN TIMEPIECES DISPLAY AT INDUSTRIES FAIR An exhibition of curious clocks and watches Will be held as part of the Centennial Industries Fair at Christchurch in August. Sponsored by the New Zealand Horological Institute with the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. the exhibition will show by displays of ancient and modern clocks and watches. by working models, diagrams and pictures th-? growth and development of horology from the days of water clocks anil sundials. It will contain modern discoveries for the recording of time, such as an atmospheric clock which can be kept going for a week on a variation of as little as one degree in the room temperature. Among the curious instruments shown will be a Japanese clock adjusted to an arrangement whereby day and night are each divided into six equal "hours.” This system resulted in the lengths of the hours varying with the seasons, and the watchmaker visited the owners of his clocks once a to make the necessary adjustments. Another clock has doors which open every hour for two Swiss postmen to play a tune on miniature mountain horns. The postmen can play eight different tunes. An internationally known collection of clocks in Whangarei is to be represented at the exhibition by some of its most interesting pieces, including a monastery clock made about the end of the eighteenth century. This instrument has a monk appearing every eight hours to toll a bell 36 times—an actual ceremony performed in the monastery of which the clock is a detailed model. There is also a clock from which the time is read bv the position of the nose of a mouse climbing the narrow vertical face: a miniature merry-go-round, perfect in every detail even to the children on the backs of the horses, which turns and plays a tune for three minutes every hour: and an alarm clock in the form of a model steam engine •which blows a compressed air whistle at the appointed lime instead of ringing the usual bell. There will be sections showing mechanical clocks and watches from France. Germany. Switzerland. England and other countries from 1670 to •he present day, and sundials and oil or water elocks which are even older. There will be several marine chronometers, traditionally the most accurate clocks made, and it is hoped to have the clock from the old Sydenham Post Office tower in working order. There will be a small charge for admission to the exhibition, and it has been arranged that half the proceeds shall be given to the Canterbury Museum Centennial Trust Fund.