Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Blinking-eye clocks
Blinking-eye clocks
Soon after the iron-front case pendulum shelf clocks had been introduced in the United States, a series of one-day lever movement timepieces cased in cast-iron figures appeared. The earliest of these (about 1856) was 'Sambo', a Negro figure 16in. High holding a banjo, in which a printed-paper dial was enclosed under a glass with brass bezel. The eyes moved up and down, being attached to a swivel actuated by the alternate swings of the balance. By 1858 several other figures had been produced, comprising a line of timepieces known as 'winkers'. These included: 'Topsy', a black woman holding a watch which was the dial (16 1/2in. ) 'David Crockett' (16 in. ), 'organ grinder'(17 1/2 in. ), 'watchdog' (8in. ), 'dog' (10 in. ), 'owl' (9in. ) and 'lion' (10 in. ). 'David Crockett' was soon replaced by 'continental' (16 in. ), which is now referred to as 'John Bull'. The iron cases were cast in two half-sections held together by screws; frequently the fronts of the castings were painted various bright colors. These were 'gadgets', sold principally in New York and they were discontinued about 1875.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Synonym(s):
- Blossary:
- Industry/Domain: Chronometry
- Category: Clock
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