(image approx. 99.8 kilobytes)
The Rolling Ball Web
An Online Compendium of
Rolling Ball Sculptures, Clocks, Etc.
By David M. MacMillan et. al.
The incomplete remains of a rolling ball clock constructed in the first half of the Twentieth century by the economic theorist Irving Fisher are preserved in the Sugar Hill Museum, Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, USA. Mrs. Jane Vincent, a trustee of the museum, located a brief description of this clock in a biography of Fisher by his son, Irving Norton Fisher:
Fisher, Irving Norton, My Father Irving Fisher. New York: Comet Press Books, 1956. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 56-12157
In that description, the clock is said to be powered by the weight of a "heavy boulder" on pulleys, and to derive its timekeeping from a "marble" rolling back and forth in a tilting, "grooved board." The clock was said to be erratic in operation, and it was unusual for it to run an entire night without stopping.
Donn Lathrop, a clockwork historian, took the following photos of the clock as it appears today. Thanks to Donn for permission to use his photos, and to the Sugar Hill Museum for permitting him to take them (and for preserving this unique clock).
Click on the thumbnail images below to bring up a full-sized image in a new browser window.
(image approx. 99.8 kilobytes)
(image approx. 93.9 kilobytes)
(image approx. 96.8 kilobytes)
Donn notes that as installed in the musuem, the clock is upside-down. In the photos above, the clock is presented in what is probably its correct orientation. He also notes that the rightmost pulley (as it appears in the photo above) is free to turn in either direction, but that the pulley on the center large wheel is ratcheted and can turn in only one direction. The large wheel on the left is the hour wheel, and the large wheel in the center the minutes wheel. The pointers which indicate the numbers are badly bent. The grooved board which accomodated the marble seems to be missing, as well.
With the exception of any material noted as being in the public domain, the text and encoding of this document are copyright © 1999 by David M. MacMillan. The images in this document are copyright © 1999 by Donn Haven Lathrop.
This document is licensed for private, noncommercial, nonprofit viewing by individuals on the World Wide Web. Any other use or copying, including but not limited to republication in printed or electronic media, modification or the creation of derivative works, and any use for profit, is prohibited.
This writing is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but "as-is," without any warranty of any kind, expressed or implied; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event will the author(s) or editor(s) of this document be liable to you or to any other party for damages, including any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use of or inability to use this document or the information contained in it, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
In no event will the author(s) or editor(s) of this document be liable to you or to any other party for any injury, death, disfigurement, or other personal damage arising out of your use of or inability to use this document or the information contained in it, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such injury, death, disfigurement, or other personal damage.
All trademarks or registered trademarks used in this document are the properties of their respective owners and (with the possible exception of any marks owned by the author(s) or editor(s) of this document) are used here for purposes of identification only. A trademark catalog page lists the marks known to be used on these web pages. Please e-mail web@lemur.com if you believe that the recognition of a trademark has been overlooked.
Version
1.2, 1999/09/10.
Feedback to web@lemur.com
http://www.database.com/~lemur/rbc-fisher.html
Go to the: