Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & LibraryObjects
1820-1850
T. Hilzinger, retailer; Meakwen "Jupiter"
Germany: Black Forest
Wood, metal, fabric, glass, paint, brass
Overall: a: 61-1/2"h x 28"w x 19"d
Gift of Mrs. Willis R. Michael
77.80.11a-t
Tall Case Organ Clock; a: trunk; with door; 1/4 round twisted columns; b: movement: six soldiers playing instruments on top; pipes at very top; c: hood; wooden case; glass door on front; side doors have red fabric; d: pendulum; e-f: "C"-shaped weights; g-i: other weights; j-l: finials on top of hood; m: door; n: brass grating; o: crank; p; key; q: painted paper backdrop with scene of mountains and trees; r: tin and wooden painting of an angel; s-t: two unidentified wooden pieces.
Clock enthusiast and collector Willis Michael (1894-1969) started his collection with a single tall case Pennsylvania clock. By the time he died, his collection had grown tremendously. This organ clock marked the time with soldiers marching to music. It is just one of the nearly one thousand clocks, watches, tools, books and automata from all over the world that Michael collected and enjoyed. For further information, see blog post, October 27, 2015: http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2015/10/at-almost-nine-feet-tall-this-clock-now-on-view-in-keeping-time-clockmakers-and-collectors-at-the-scottish-rite-maso-1.html