Conical Pendulum Clock

Strip frame movement with countwheel striking on a gong and stopwork regulated by the conical pendulum suspended from the pierced ebonized wooden support. Label on the bottom reads, Eight Day Noiseless Rotary No. 1 manufactured by F. Kroeber No. 14 Cortland Street (old number 8) New York patented June 18th, 1878. Additional label includes instructions.

An interesting experiment in the latter half of the 19th century was the use of conical (or circular) pendulums. Few were made. E. N. Welch and F. Kroeber were the main manufacturers, but F. Kroeber had the most success. The conical pendulum has the advantage of being noiseless. The first conical pendulum was invented shortly after the conventional pendulum circa 1659. It was used in novelty clocks and by astronomers to control equatorial telescopes.