Musical Clocks

From The American Horologist magazine, January, 1946

Musical Clocks

Frederick Smith, an auditor at the Empire Life and Accident Co., Indianapolis, Ind., has a unique collection of clocks - all with a musical background. He has about 30 of them scattered throughout his home, collected over a period of years. In his living room he has a big grandfather's clock with a pipe organ attachment. Dating back to 1870, this clock plays a tune on the hour.

One of his most beautiful possessions is an antique Swiss-type clock with a huge dome towering above it. On one side of the clock is a tower, on the other a windmill. On the baseboard below the clock a small boat rides on what is supposed to be the ocean. This clock also plays a pretty tune.

Smith haunts ll the antique shops in Indianapolis, hoping to find suitable clocks to add to his collection. He is not above taking time off to travel miles outside the state in order to acquire one. Being mechanically-minded, Smith will buy a musical clock that is on the blink and fix it himself.