TURRET CLOCK MANUFACTURING IN DUNEDIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2055, 5 September 1868, Page 3

TURRET CLOCK MANUFACTURING IN DUNEDIN.

. The hands of the clock in the turret of the Hospital were removed during last week; and the residents in the northern portion of the city, who have come to know the. convenience of the clock, have undoubtedly grumbled. It has been assumed, rightly, that the clock there is to be removed to the tower of the Post office; and it has also been assumed, wrongly, that the Hospital iv to be left without a clock. In fact, as we mentioned a few months ago, tho Hospital is to have a new instrument—the first turret clock manufactured in New Zealand; the manufacturer being Mr J. Hyman, of Princes street. This clock has been put up in Mr Hyman's shop, where it has been working for the last few days, and where it will necessarily remain for some days. It is worthy of inspection. Of course, in undertaking to produce for the first time in the Colony such a piece of mechanism as a turret clock, Mr Hyman haa had difficulties to contend with which will not be operative as against the more rapid manufacture of other similar clocks, for which he naturally hopes to receive orders. But, whatever tredifficulties have been, they have been overcome by Mr H. Lund—by whom all the work has been done, on Mr Hyman's premises—and the clock may be shown with justifiable pride as an Otagan production, and the first of its kind produced, riot only in New Zealand, but, we believe, in the Australasian Colonies. The clock now at the Hospital, has "striking" machinery, which was rather out of place considering the use of the building Because of that fact, it was determined to shift the clock to the Post Office, and to supply to the Hospital one on the "dejidbeat escapement" principle. Mr Hyman's clock is accordingly an eight - day one, with dead - beat escapement and compensation pendulum, and to ' show the time on five dials. The fifth dial is a small one. placed within the turret, and will have only a minute hand; the purpose being to | assist in the regulation of the clock. The brass work of the clock itself, the iron framej work, and the various iron or steel axles, &c, are beautifully finished in every part. In the design of the clock, all modern improvements have been introduced; and there are some improvements which are peculiar to the clock. One of them is, a screw, by which the length of the pendulum can be increased or diminished, so as to regulate the mechanism, without stopping it, or without the regulator needing to deal with the bottom of the pendulum, which is the usual mode, but. would be inconvenient or impossible when this clock is once placed in the turret of the Hospital. Another improve ment is, the use of a double universal joint in the construction of the upright shaft which carries the motion up to the wheels, from which it is communicated by four axks to those wheels which regulate the motion of the hour and miauts hands. By the use of this double universal jcint, a modification of the length of the shaft, or of the axles, so as adapt the clock to a greater or less height and breadth of turret, is rendered very easy; and it is believed, also, that it will counteract any prejudicial vibration, from wind or any other cause, which is of not unfrequent occurrence in such clocks. The copper wire which carries the weight, and the pulky, are the only parts of the clock which have been imported ready made. The price at which the clock is to be supplied to the Provincial Government, is, we shear, Ll7O or LIBO, and such a piece of mechanism couldcertainly notbe imported, wearetold, for a less sum.—The fixing of the dials in the Post Olfics tower has now been completed. They are 6ft diameter, and of frosted plateglass, for illumination. The removal of the clock from the Hospital will be proceeded with at once, and it will be thoroughly cleaned before being put up in the Post Office. The turret-fittings at the Hospital will require some alterations, to fit them for receiving, and protecting, the new clock.