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The Engle Monumental Clock

Stephen Engle indeed enjoyed an interesting, if not enviable, life. His children and grandchildren remember him with a reverence and esteem only a man of that era and genre could produce. Engle died January 24, 1921 at the age of 83, an unusual man of many diverse accomplishments, whose achievements were epitomized by his most unusual clock (Figure 2).

Several interesting and curious facts have surfaced in researching Mr. Engle's monument clock. One was the discovery that Engle actually made three or four clocks, probably as precursors to his masterpiece. All were on a much smaller scale than the "8th Wonder," but do show a progression of ideas and craftsmanship in three distinct stages that culminated in his final effort.

Engle's first attempt at making an "apostolic" clock (Figure 3) apparently was the first stage in a process that eventually led to the "8th Wonder." This "first phase" clock, was reportedly lost in a fire, although it may have been cannibalized for parts in the second stage of development. Nothing is known about the movements) used in this particular clock, and they were probably not used in subsequent stages, except the tellurian, because the dial configuration was completely rearranged in the two later models. Engle also started to incorporate articulated figures in the later stages, which would have necessitated a redesign of the movements.

The discernable figures in the picture of the first clock are: Christ standing before the apostles as they march in procession, what appears to be father time below and to the left of the dial, Justice below and to the right of the dial, and the figure of death, in the form of a skeleton, appears in a small aperture directly above the dial. On two small turned pedestals at each corner of the platform on which the apostles appear at the top of the clock are the figures of a Roman soldier at the left, and the cock that crows when Peter passes by on the right side. The tellurian consists of a large disk in the base of the clock that shows which constellations are visible in the night sky. All of the figures used in this "phase 1" clock are represented in different configurations in the latter phases of Engle's clock, but on a larger scale. If there was an organ movement in this first clock, it probably was of Swiss design and spring driven, since the base and case do not seem to have enough room or drop for a weight driven type of organ.

Figure 3. Stephen Engle's first Apostolic clock.

There is no record of Engle's first clock being exhibited publicly as were its successors. However, in the background in the top right corner of figure 3, there is a partially visible poster on the wall that says "facsimile of Strasbourg."

The second stage, or "phase 2," of Engle's clock had a single tower with twenty-six moving figures (Figure 4). The twelve apostles issue from a side door, and pass in procession past the figure of Christ, who nods as each apostle passes. Peter turns away in denial as he passes Christ, at which time a cock flaps his wings and crows three times. Satan alternately appears from two windows above and follows Judas, the last apostle in the procession, from the side door.

From a door, which opens upon a balcony above, the three Mary’s walk out, while on the battlement-type roof a Roman soldier continually marches back and forth. The figure of Justice raises her scale while the apostles are passing, and drops them as the last one disappears. Youth, Manhood, and Old Age appear above the dial at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters. Father time, above 2 o'clock, turns an hourglass in his hand and strikes a bell with his scythe at the half hour. The figure of Death tolls the hour with a thighbone on a skull on the hour, as a corresponding bell rings inside the case.

Figure 4. Stephen Engle's second Apostolic clock (second phase).

"Beautiful music and the chiming of bells are heard while these movements are transpiring. The apostles appear voluntarily at the hour and half-hour, but can be produced seven times beside each hour, and there is no time during the day or evening that this wonderful clock is not producing some one of its startling features," so states the Mountain Beacon, on November 22, 1877. Mrs. Reid was the featured lecturer, according to the Beacon article, and admission was 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children under 12.

The base, which is almost identical to the "phase 1" clock base, except more elongated, has the same type of tellurian, and the elongated base was probably needed to provide a longer drop for the movement and organ weights, since the music described in this clock is from an organ movement built by Engle requiring a large weight. The figures are much larger than the first model, most measuring about 10 inches, and instead of simple carved wood figures, many of the phase 2 figures are articulated and all are made with wax heads and hands and other materials to give them a realistic appearance.

The phase 2 clock measured a full 11 feet in height, had a nest of bells, and a large organ movement that played three sacred hymns and a Christmas carol. The movements are of exceptional quality, made from an alloy resembling bronze, probably developed by Engle himself, and show little wear and tear despite their long and rigorous use. The main clock movement (Figure 5) has three trains, the middle for the time and quarter hour figures, the left for Father Time and bells, and the right for Death and bell.

Figure 5. The main three-train movement of the clock.

The indicators surrounding the clock dial-day of the week at 3 o'clock, axis of the earth at 4:30, day of the month at 6, tides at 7:30, and month at 9 o'clock-are manually operated with no indication of mechanisms ever being attached to the movements. The day of the month is an especially curious arrangement, in that two hinges can be seen below and on either side of the window showing the date. These hinges open the small area trimmed around the window to reveal a small stack of cards in a pocket behind the window, numbering 1 to 31. The proper number for the day of the month is merely put in the front of the stack and the small door shut. The hand showing the phases of the moon on the dial is also manually operated.