Day 137

THE CLOCK — THE STORY OF MY LIFE

I was born in 1928 in Recklinghausen Germany. I am unique in that I was actually made by an engineer with a clock making background, rather than a clockmaker. With my big 100 kg weights and my pendulum weighing 70 kg I am the only one of my type in the world. I was originally a tower clock in Germany and survived the bombs of World War II (1940-1945). The small red clock face you can see was originally used on my master control. This was used to adjust the time and hands on the North, South, East and West clock faces situated 5 stories above in the tower. Having this master control saved the poor old priest climbing 5 stories of steps to reach the top of the tower to change the hands on each face. Each clock face was huge — approximately 5 meters across . . . A BIT BIG TO FIT INTO THIS SHOP HERE.

HOW DID I END UP IN WONTHAGGI?

well, after surviving World War II, I was rescued by a renown clockmaker/antique dealer and taken to the Netherlands. Here I lived peacefully for almost 50 years in the second storey of his dining room. In 1993, Gerard embarked me on a journey Down Under. This was on a big ship that took almost a year. I was off loaded in a place they call Singapore and lost for a while, however I was found and ended up in Wonthaggi.
I am now enjoying my new home and looking forward to becoming a local.

(information as displayed alongside this wonderful clock in the jewellers at Wonthaggi)