The maker of GastownB次元官网网址檚 famous steam clock says some of the best years of his life were in Surrey.

B次元官网网址淚 lived in Guildford in the mid-1960s,B次元官网网址� Raymond Saunders recalled in a phone call. B次元官网网址淚 was working at the WoodwardB次元官网网址檚 store, where I was in charge of the watch and clock department for a few years before I moved.B次元官网网址�

Little more than a decade later, in 1977, Saunders was commissioned to make the steam clock that would make him famous.

The 46-year-old clock still attracts curious tourists to the corner of Water and Cambie streets, where it stands over a grate thatB次元官网网址檚 part of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 distributed steam-heating system.

On Saturday (April 22), Saunders travelled back to Surrey to see B次元官网网址淛ust Time,B次元官网网址� an art show focused on time and clocks at Newton Cultural Centre. Some of the art was created by Delta-based Theresa Moleski , who incorporated some clock parts from SaundersB次元官网网址� collection.

B次元官网网址淚 bought the two that I like the most, hand-painted art, oil on canvas, and I collect those as a hobby,B次元官网网址� explained Saunders, who lives and still works as a horologist in Richmond, with his Landmark Clocks International.

B次元官网网址淢y office has lots of steam-clock pictures on the walls,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very gratifying how popular itB次元官网网址檚 become in the city, where itB次元官网网址檚 a must-see attraction for tourists, I guess. And I have two of them in Japan, too B次元官网网址� the same model and patterns, and theyB次元官网网址檙e more popular than the Gastown one. Sometimes thereB次元官网网址檚 a thousand people standing around , and they all clap when it goes off.B次元官网网址�

Four years ago, tens of thousands of dollars were raised for Saunders when he fell off a ladder while working on a clock in Trenant Park Square in Ladner. He landed in hospital with serious injuries, including a broken pelvis, ribs and some vertebrae.

B次元官网网址淩ay has never received royalties from any of the millions of photos, album covers, T-shirts and other things displaying the images of his most famous clock (in Gastown),B次元官网网址� said .

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

I first interviewed Saunders for a story in the WestEnder newspaper in February 1990, when the Gastown clock was just 12 years old.

At the time, Saunders talked about the creation of the $64,000 clock and how it was designed to harness steam. It was a wet September during the installation, and a hut was built to shelter Saunders and crew, but the steam on the plastic ceiling condensed.

B次元官网网址淚t just poured on us,B次元官网网址� Saunders said in 1990. B次元官网网址淚t was raining outside and inside. We had boxes of nuts and bolts that were filled with water.B次元官网网址�

While in Surrey last week, Saunders donated four books about the steam clock to the gallery, which will benefit from sale proceeds.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 83,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渁nd IB次元官网网址檓 trying to retire, but itB次元官网网址檚 not easy to retire when you have a long history of doing work for people. I do a lot of work for people who have nice-sized collections of clocks, including some real unusual ones.B次元官网网址�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on