Mystery Clock

From Horology magazine, November, 1937

The New York Herald Tribune recently described a "mystery" clock with which the late Phineas T. Barnum puzzled audiences in the '70's'. The clock is now owned by Edwin Franko Goldman, the band director. The dial of the clock is mounted on a glass cylinder. The hand of the clock is mounted on a glass disc with teeth formed in its circumference and is connected with the movement in the base by means of a bevel gear drive.

A number of so called "mystery watches" have also been made. These watches have a small movement concealed in the case near the pendant. The minute hand is fastened to a glass disc which has teeth in its circumference and is turned by the movement. The case is made with a crystal on both sides so that seemingly there is no mechanism to account for the turning of the hands.