Rare "The Eight Wonder of the World" Engle Clock Stereoview, 1878

An interesting bit of history, this one, documenting the incredible Engle clock, created by Stephen Decatur Engle in 1878. From an entry about it on the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors website: The towering mechanical clock (now held in the collection of the National Clock and Watch Museum) measures 11′ high and includes among its mechanical features two organ movements, 48 moving figures (Jesus Christ, the twelve Apostles, the three Marys, Satan, Father Time, the three Ages of Man, Death, Justice, Orpheus, and Linus among them) and a type of tellurian movement (patented by Engle) that illustrates the positions of the moon, constellations, and zodiac relative to the rotating earth. The clock also indicates such things as the months, days of the week, moon phases, and tides. Exactly on the hour the figure of Death strikes a thigh bone against the skull attached to the column. At 15, 30, and 45 minutes past the hour Father Time strikes a bell with a scythe and turns his sandglass, while the figures of Youth, Middle Age, and Old Age revolve in the arch above the clock dial. At 40 minutes past the hour a parade of Revolutionary soldiers and Molly Pitcher appear in the left tower while a barrel organ plays patriotic tunes. At 55 minutes past the hour the three Marys emerge from the central tower and the grand procession of the Apostles takes place accompanied by hymns from the barrel organ in the right tower. The soldier at the very top of the central tower maintains a constant vigil while the clock is running. Captain Jacob Reid, the clocks first promoter, was so sure of its technical complexity that he offered $50,000 to anyone who could find a clock that did “more and better work.”

SO....pretty amazing! This rare stereoview captures the clock not long after its creation, with Engle standing beside it, as it launched on a national tour, orchestrated by Reid. 

7" x 3 15/16". Overall good condition, with with a bit of fraying to the card, as documented; one small white stain on Engle's shoulder in left image, and some pin marks/flea bites at up left on the "Welcome" sign.