Biggest Clock in the World.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 October 1914, Page 2

Biggest Clock in the World.

Very few'people-have '-Seen ; the.-in-; side of Big Ben, the biggest clock in the world. Tho apartments where""the dials' -afo- fixed: have the Gredit;, of, being -"the hottest places in London" a Jc night, for" about1 a

score '•-': of' 'gas-jets- [, burji- ; fi^rcely,-in a, room . about 4ft. wide.

The 'hour 'fig\ires:; ai'e '' 2f£ ;l6ngy and' the minute spaces Ift. square. Tho hour hands are made of gunmetal, but the minute hands are tubular, and made of copper, and are lift, long. The pendulum is just over 13ft;illong/v and.- ; . weighs, nearly 7001b, The hour bell, which gives the clockto.wer its •,• popular „- name of Big Be'ri, weighs \^LSfetoris/ llc^t. ; v ' _^J|rom first last Big" -Ben has cost about £25,000. " The cl'Sclfis fwound -, ev^By^j, 'M<j>n.d4y, ■ Wednesday, ' and Friday afternoon. The w'iri'dj ing 'is very -hard; work/ and lasts several; hours, and. the rests which the winders obtain" during the i times., of .chiming are gladly welcomed. • The cleaner' finds it-a good da.y's-work, to .get. :Qne-face of the cloclc cleaned "within." working hours.'