Gilded Copper Clock with Rolling Ball Mechanism

Copy from Original: Made in the early 19th. Century, France

Dimension: 23.2X18.2X46cm.

N. W. (kgs. ): 14.5

The top part of the clock is a box with a handle carved in the shape of a lion. The box contains 18 steel balls, each weighting 250 grams. The clock does not rely on a spring, but receives energy from the pressure of the balls to activate the movement. Behind the movement is a large wheel divided into 12 sections. The bottom of the clock has a drawer for receiving the fallen balls. When four balls enter the divided parts on the wheel, it will start revolving. Then the fifth ball will roll onto the wheel, adding pressure to the wheel to make it turn clockwise. The wheel then activates a gear, which activates the pendulum. The balls gradually fall onto the wheel, six at any given time. After the clock works for 16 hours, a ball will fall into the drawer at the bottom, and a new ball will roll onto the wheel to replace it. Every other eight-day period, a fallen ball will be paced back into the box at the top to keep the clock going without interruption. On one side, the clock has a thermometer, and below the dial is a wind and rain meter.