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The original clock at Strasbourg
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Longford's Strasbourg Clock
The first Strasbourg astronomical clock was built between 1352 and 1354. Another clock was built in 1843, to replace the older one, and is situated in the Strasbourg Cathedral, near the German border in France. The clock has an automatic mechanism showing the time, day, month, year, where the moon, sun and where the planets are located in the sky. The clock is known for its ‘automata’, a main attraction being the Procession of the Apostles which occurs every day at 12:30pm.
When a copy of the Strasbourg clock toured Tasmania in the 1930s, Sid Boon, a Longford local, was inspired to build a replica. Mr Boon’s copy has all the features of the original clock. It is nearly two metres (6 feet) high and 90 centimeters (3 feet) wide. To construct the inside workings, Sid invented his own mechanism. The clock has been displayed at many Longford shows and has spent many years in the local Methodist Church. When Sid was not working on the clock, he maintained many of the steam engines in the district.
Another Australian version of the "Strasburg" Clock was constructed in Sydney between 1887 and 1889, and is displayed at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney 
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An early photograph of Mr Boon's Strasbourg Clock |
CLEVER MODEL
Tasmanian Replica of Famous Clock
AT LONGFORD
Years ago, when a model of the world famous Strasburg clock was on show in Tasmania, Mr. S. E. Boon, of Longford, conceived the idea of building a similar timepiece. With a photograph of the original, a glimpse of the exterior of the model in motion, and an inventive genius of his own, he set to work. After twelve months of painstaking labour the model was completed, and attracted a great deal of interest. Six months ago Mr. Boon decided to improve the model, and this now has been done to his satisfaction.
Although not an exact replica of the original, Mr. Boon's model embodies all the characteristics of the famous clock. It is six feet high and three feet wide. On the top of the clock proper is a miniature cathedral, on either side of which stand the angels of life and death. At the end of each hour these figures turn to face each other, the central portals open, and a figure of the Saviour appears. Through side doors a procession of apostles emerges, and each in turn bows to the central figure. When the fifth figure representing Peter, approaches, Satan appears through opening doors on a balcony and Peter, tempted, turns his back on the Saviour.
At the foot of the clock a globe of the world revolves once in every 24 hours, with the sun in the background, indicating that portion of the world in sunlight. A chart of the course of the stars for each month of the year is also shown, this being worked by the clock itself. In addition to the time of the day, the clock indicates the day of the week, the date of the month, and the month of the year. All stages of the moon are shown, from the tiny arc of the new moon to that of the moon on the wane. Day is indicated by the appearance of a white carriage drawn by two white horses, and a black carriage and horses are utilised to depict night. Figures representing the four ages of man emerge from the clock every hour.
The entire movements are controlled by an eight-day clock installed by Mr. Boon, all other parts having been made by the builder.
The Infinite labour, the great patience and skill displayed in fashioning and calculating the size of the various gears required, has occasioned great wonder on the part of those who have seen the clock in motion, especially considering that Mr. Boon was forced to invent his own mechanical system for the many movements. It is very unlikely that a model such as this has ever been attempted or completed anywhere else in Australia. |
‘The Examiner’, September 25th 1935. |
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