I didn’t know much about clocks before I started writing the Clock Shop Mystery series, so I needed to dive into research. I read, a lot. I googled. I visited the Amercan Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut. The museum gave me a lot to think about regarding styles, craftsmanship, and the history of clocks in New England. (Wonderful place to visit, highly recommended.)
I needed to meet a clockmaker, and mentioned that to my friend Susan Roberts. “My husband is a clockmaker,” she said. Bam.
I wrote to David Roberts a few weeks ago to ask some questions. I’d met him before, on a trip to the store he runs with his brother James, The Clockfolk of New England in Wilmington, MA. That visit helped me learn about the shop. But now I needed to learn about clock towers. “Well, I can give you a tour of one,” he said. We agreed to meet Saturday in Reading. He and his brother alternate weeks winding the clock tower there.
I climbed up two ladders, and got up to the tower. It was perfect. A four-sided clock with huge faces that let light in. Four arms are attached to a central mechanism, which was installed just over one-hundred years ago. With incredible patience, David talked me through how the clock works. He let me help wind it–which is quite a workout. 50 revolutions per day, and it needs to run for a week. The clock weights come in at 450 pounds, but because of counterweights, it took work but I could do it.
The Seth Thomas clock is a marvel of craftsmanship. Not many people will actually see the clock itself, yet it is painted with details, with beautifully crafted pieces. Everything serves a purpose, and it all needs to work together in order to work at all. We timed the visit so I could hear the bell ring, another mechanized activity that was amazing to learn about.
I am not ever going to remember everything David told me. But what I will remember, and what struck me the first time I went to the shop and met he and James, was the passion of the clockmaker. It takes years to learn the craft, and more years to hone it. Like writing, or performing, or any other craft, there has to be joy in the process, otherwise why do it? The Roberts brothers ARE clockfolk, and I am grateful that they share their passion with me.
Now, why did I need to visit a clock tower? You’ll have to wait until next August to find out! But get ready for the next adventure of our intrepid clockmaker Ruth Clagan when Clock and Dagger is released this August.
I love this, Julie! Where in Reading is the tower? I want to see a picture of it from the outside, too!
It is the United Methodist church. I’ll post an outside picture. It is lovely from the outside, but I really enjoyed the inside view.
I’d love to visit the Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut. I’m putting it on my list. Thanks.
It is a wonderful place to visit. The watch section helped me a lot with CLOCK AND DAGGER.
Very excited as my husband loves clocks. We have about four that he lovingly winds each week. There is a wonderful clock repairer here in Newburyport MA that loves his work and has a houseful of gems. He’d love to talk clocks……..Dovetail Clocks on Washington Street.
Oh, cool, Joan! I didn’t know.
Thank you! Clock makers have a passion that is contagious. I’d love to visit his shop.
Reblogged this on The Penningtons Investigate and commented:
Julianne Holmes share the fun of field research for her Clock Shop mysteries. Highly recommended
Another reason to love New England!! Loved the art on the clock itself.
Isn’t it lovely?
I have driven by that Clock and Watch museum in Bristol many times, but haven’t made time (HA!, like you haven’t heard that one before) to go in. I’m a museum nerd, so will have to move that up on my list. BTW, I’m quite sure I know how a clock tower fits into your story-after-next. Clearly, your flux capacitor needs 1.21 gigawatts of electricity, and the clock tower is conveniently about to be struck by lightning. 🙂
LOL. Genre jumping in the 3rd book! Do make time (lol) to go the museum. It is really great.
LOL!
I can’t wait for Clock and Dagger!
In preparing for my daughter’s wedding we dealt with these amazing, amazing tailors on Boylston Street, and it struck me while I sat there watching them work, I love stories people who are experts at what they do and passionate about their work. Love them.
Thanks Barb! Another skill that is a dying but still needed art. It must be amazingly rewarding, though not ever easy.
What fun! Who says all research is boring, right? I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out for Ruth.
Thanks Mark. It really was a lot of fun!
What a fascinating experience — I’m so glad you shared it with us! And the pictures are fantastic!
Thanks! I have a couple of videos I am going to do something with at some point…
Great to see these old-time professions still thriving amid new technology. Have to hand it to you…great research.
Thank you! The old clocks are really a marvel. Glad that there are folks like the Roberts Brothers keeping up with the craft.
How interesting. I would love to see the inside of a clock tower! Clock works are fascinating to me.
It was so interesting!! Different than I expected, so it is good that I went!
Julie, your visit sounds so cool!
It was wicked awesome.
How cool is that?