The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-27
THE CLOCK WINDER.
A NEW YORK MAN WHO MAKES HIS
LIVING AT THIS CALLING.
Whims of Some of His Patrons Whose
Timepieces He Looks After-Mystery Of
the Clock That Would Not Go ON Friday.
Twenty Clocks In One House.

the Clock That Would Not Go on Friday.
Twenty Clocks In One House.
Clock winding seems a simple enough
task to be performed by owners for
their respective timepieces but there are
many people who find it sufficiently
burdensome TO make them delegate it to
some one else Hence has arisen the
profession of clock winder, which as
yet claims probably fewer members
than any other calling in the city. For
some years jewellers have attended to
the repairing of clocks which they sold
and have even looked after the winding
where this was especially desired, but
they never tried to obtain this kind of
business. and it was done merely as an
accommodation to their customers. Now
| there is at least one man III New York
there may be more, though not many
whose only occupation is the wind
ing. regulating and occasional cleaning
| OF clocks for numerous families. He
makes daily rounds so as to cover his
entire route, but he never visits the
same house oftener than once a week.
On that day his coming is expected, and
he has free access to all the rooms
whether they are occupied at the time
or not Through the various halls and
apartments he goes. from the top of the
house to the bottom, winding the clocks
and giving a touch here and there to
regulator where he finds it necessary
OF course he does not pay any attention
to the little nickel alarm clocks, which
run for only one day His care, being
given weekly, is spent upon the eight
day clocks of more expensive design and
workmanship
The clock winder whom The Tribune
reporter saw had several stories to tell
about the pursuit Of his occupation.
Some people are very particular about
the striking of their clocks, he said.
"They will ask me if can't arrange to
have all the timepieces III the house
strike together Now, as general
thlng. that is an impossibility, and I'll
tell you why Some clocks are arranged
to strike Just half a minute before the
hour. some for quarter OF minute
before some for few seconds after the
hour and so on. You see if fixed them
so that they would strike together they
would not be exactly together in point
of actual time which is more important.
In one house on my list the family owns
20 clocks OF these suppose or O.
perhaps more-strike in unison, and
the others all within minute. My or
ders In this house are to have all the
clocks except one at precisely the cor
rect time This odd one is the timepiece
III the bedroom of the mistress of the
house. and she wishes it kept three
minutes fast | think that is the only
instance among my customers of any
body who wants clock perpetually
fast. and | am very certain there is nc
one who asks me to keep one slow
When | undertake the care OF the
clocks III house, nobody else is allow
ed to touch them, and the servants IL
particular have orders never TO move OF
interfere with them in any way Some
times this is done accidentally, and II
is hard TO find out how the clock has
been injured A few months ago l LOST
one of my best houses because there wa:
|
put in proper order would take i
away, clean it thoroughly and look t
every smallest part of the mechanism
Apparently it made no difference. Th'
clock positively refused to run right
Finally | gave it up, and that family
had mighty poor opinion OF my abll
; tiles as clock repairer
Some weeks after that came across
a clock in another house which acted IL
exactly the same way was puzzled
! for awhile Finally noticed that it al
ways stopped on Fridays That wa
, queerer than ever until by chance hi
/, upon the solution of the mystery Th'
servant, while busting the room on tina
day, was in the habit OF passing he
! cloth along the mantle under the clock
! This would have made no difference
with many timepieces, but this one ha'
an open bottom, through which the tn
of the pendulum projected. The busting
!. cloth Just touched this enough to stol
+ it. The girl did not know what she haC
! done, and thus the family were mysti
fed anew each week by finding that TIT
: clock would not go on Friday.
: ~ clean all my clocks regularly onc
e, in two years. and in that way keep then
:, in proper running order. Most people
0 think that it is just as well to let |
= clock run until it stops, fairly clogget
; MP with dirt, but that isn't so. BY tina
time it may be SO bad that it will b
5 impossible ever to make 1t run as accu
/; rately as it did before.
= II am usually paid by the month Il
take entire charge Of all the clocks in
house, it being understood that max
weekly visits, Sometimes, though,
: am employed by the year. In the cas-
, of the house was telling you of, wher
: they have 20 clocks, they pay me $40
5 annually for the work. 1t takes a goo'
/; deal of my time in the course OF i
months, and ] don't fill my pockets
: tast as some folks seem to think
/; ought" concluded the clock winde
: with smile. New York Tribune.