One of these clocks was appraised on ARS tonite (Antiques Roadshow tv show on PBS.). Owner's clock showed a lot of wear but seemed as complete as this exc. condition one http://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/index/2822-clocks-with-barometer-thermometer/ Scroll to 20th clock, boiler one. Appraiser said he'd conferred with a colleague and both agreed valuation on this clock would suffer since "the spring-wind mechanism that makes the steam engine run is missing." Well I've never seen one of these before but I couldn't see any such mechanism on either the ARS item or one at link. Same major part gone from two random clocks on different continents? I don't think so. I'm thinking the black tank is a real compressed-air reservoir, and the valve below the thermometer supplies air to the engine, and the valve over the thermometer supplies air to the whistle. How the reservoir is recharged isn't obvious, perhaps a bicycle-pump thing came as an accessory. The one- cylinder engine is just too detailed to not function as an air-powered "steam engine." Is ARS correct or am I?
This one from the ARS site? (I did watch but didn't pay extra close attention) APPRAISER:"It's very true, and I think that's one of the reasons why they're becoming so popular. There's really a… an uptick in the market for clocks like this. This was made circa 1885. This clock does need some restoration, however. The dial is in pretty rough shape. Probably needs to have the numerals strengthened. And the barometer needs some repair as well. One of the things that I discovered with my colleague: that it's missing the clockwork mechanism that provides the power for all this automation at the top." http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/se...steam-boiler-clock-ca-1885--201503A36#related
How close is this one? https://www.antiqueclockspriceguide.com/pages/clock3845.php Catalog Description: C.1885, French "Horizontal Steam Boiler" shelf clock from the Industrial Series of clocks. The boiler with engine, flywheel and governor. The 8-day time movement, barometer and thermometer, plus misc valves, tubes and fittings mounted on the front of the boiler. On top to the left is the steam cylinder, appearing to drive the flywheel and governor, all kept in motion by a spring motor inside the boiler which runs several hours on a winding. The whole mounted to a textured brass base (oxidized black) which is mounted in turn on a black marble base with brass feet. The clock itself is a small platform timepiece mounted in the left of the boiler, and to the right sets an aneroid barometer, and in the center a thermometer. Despite consignors worldwide sending us these Industrial clocks, this is a hard to find model in very good condition. For literature, see Derek Roberts' Mystery, Novelty Fantasy Clocks, page 264. Height 11 inches
Thanks for finding that description, now I'm sure ARS was correct because the spring motor is mentioned. All the copper tubing, valves, etc. really fooled me. The tiny whistle that you could only operate with air or steam really fooled me. If I ever see one of these in person I'll stop and check it out carefully.
As soon as I woke up this AM it hit me-the clockwork inside drives the compressor on top, which sends compressed air to the tiny whistle when the whistle valve is opened. There must be a small air reservoir inside somewhere to allow the whistle to blow continuously while the compressor is running. Maybe the design allows air from reservoir to be piped back to compressor when spring motor is off, so compressor would then run as an air motor, but the picture doesn't show all the plumbing. As they say, those alpha waves in your brain are strongest early in the AM.
I wasn't paying all that much attention either. I believe this is the item where someone mentioned steampunk, the first time I think I've heard that on ARS.
I was in the NRA museum (National Rifle Association) recently and there was a whole gallery of steampunk guns. http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-g...firearms/world’s-first-automatic-handgun.aspx
I wasn't aware that steampunk used real firearms in their creations. Cowans just had an auction where some of the guns looked like they could be steam punk.....but they were just unusual designs of real old guns.
