Penguin on the Delacorte Clock in Central Park, May 2011

The Delacorte Musical Clock brings sweet seasonal chimes on the half hour to a nook of the Park beloved by generations of families. Near the entrance of the Children's Zoo, the clock was dedicated in 1965 with funding from philanthropist George T. Delacorte. It sits atop a three-tiered tower and features a band of whimsical animals: two bronze monkeys banging hammers against a bell; a penguin on drum; a hippo on violin; a bear and his tambourine; a concertina-playing elephant; a goat with pipes; and a kangaroo on horn.

The animals circle the tower to one of 44 tunes that change seasonally: Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells in December, April Showers and Easter Parade in spring, and classics like Three Blind Mice all year long.

Conservancy staffers inspect the clock daily to help keep the tradition alive, checking everything right down to the 28 bearings that make the statues move and spin. With much of the electric system exposed to the elements, the piece needs careful attention. About 30 fuses get replaced during the cold winter months.

"It's so popular with people. They would be so disappointed if the clock didn't work and the music didn't play," says Joseph McBain, preservation technician for the Conservancy. "So we're out here every day, making sure it runs on a daily basis."


Text from: www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-see/south-end/dela...