A day with a passionate clock collector

There’s an old saying that “Time waits for no man”, but if you want timepieces to be giving you company then there’s no better way than to start collecting them. That’s exactly what one practicing Ophthalmologist’s hobby has been for the past 10 years. Be it old or new, if it is a clock that needs care then Dr Norman is there to give it.

It all started 10 years back when he spotted a banner which said that there was lots of old furniture for sale. It was a time when there was a real estate boom in the city and one of the old houses in Bendoor was being brought down. So when, Mr. Mendonca approached the sale for furniture he found an old dismantled clock which craved for attention. So, he politely asked the owner of the house if he could keep it. He got the clock repaired by fixing its parts together and oiled it to working condition. Although he has not planned arranging clocks in a separate room, his house has a room full of clocks.

From then on Dr Norman has been receiving clocks from all over the city and outside from old houses, hotels or offices. He humbly says. “I have many friends who don’t know what to do with old clocks as they don’t have the patience to maintain them. Since they feel bad to throw it away they contribute it to my collection. I now have a huge collection. I have to spend time in maintaining them regularly.” The Doctor also has many acquaintances who have ancestral property and sometimes receives clocks from these households. The highest he has paid is Rs 10,000 for a clock. His collection includes brands like Westend, Wherle and Faber Luba.

Dr Norman informs us that, “Collecting old items needs lot of patience and maintenance. While building my house I did not plan a room for my clocks, but now it’s a room full”. The oldest of his collection is an 80- year old clock. The maker of this clock is from the United States and goes by the brand name ‘Unsonia’. Another clock in his collection has been salvaged from the trial room of the District court in Mangalore near St Aloysius College. This clock is still working and has a chime as well. Many clocks in his collection have different chimes and it is unique to find chimes of various melodies. A Japanese clock which goes by the name ‘Sei- Kosha’ has a lever which can be adjusted so that one does not miss the chime. Clocks from countries like Germany and UK are particularly famous. A brand by the name ‘Mouthe’ from Germany has a quarterly chime and needs 3 keys to make it tick.

To keep these clocks ticking they need regular oiling. Usually he gets his supply of oil from local watch repairers. Some clocks need regular keying as well. If maintained well they look elegant and it is quite a melody when different chimes can be heard from these time keepers. Maintaining clocks is quite a hobby.

Comments