Hand-made clocks defy time

Clive Wood busy in his Whakatane workshop. Photo / ROZ ANDERSON

Daylight savings - whether the beginning or the end - can be an arduous time for a horologist.

A horologist is a watch or clock maker and, as you would expect, there aren't too many around. The few left tend to build an impressive collection of clocks or watches that all need attention when it's time to put time back or forward.

Whakatane has its own horologist who, from his workshop, is turning out stunning clocks of yester-year with the name of the town on their dials.

Clive Wood began a five-year clock making apprenticeship in England in the 1970s. After the half-decade of learning, Mr Wood could claim to be an "improver" - not quite a fully-fledged clock maker, but almost.

"I worked in clock restoration for a number of years and also held a position at Seiko when the quartz watch was in its infancy," Mr Wood said.

After owning a number of businesses with his wife Sarah, also a horologist, Mr Wood came to New Zealand from England in 1990 to look at buying a watch-making business in Auckland.

"Not only had I never been to New Zealand, I'd actually never been on a plane before then," Mr Wood laughed. 'But I knew almost instantly that New Zealand was the place I wanted our kids to grow up, so we settled in Auckland and started our own business rather than buying an existing one."

It was while visiting their daughter, who had moved to Whakatane, that the Woods fell in love with the place.

"We took a punt, sold everything and came here. It was the one of the best decisions that we've made. We've met some truly awesome people here and enjoy being involved with community organisations such as the Whakatane Menz Shed."

His home-based workshop is testament to the dedication to his trade, all the intricate machinery and tools required for the job have been lovingly restored or built from scratch. Each piece, even down to the smallest needle-sized tool has a place in the immaculate work space. "In the heyday of English clock-making, a clock was created by a number of people who all had a specialised job to do toward the finished timepiece. Over the years I've taught myself to do everything from start to finish - similar to my own hero, the late George Daniels, who was considered to be the best watch-maker in the world during his lifetime.

"He was one of the few modern watch-makers who built complete watches by hand, including the case and dial."

Mr Wood specialises in the restoration of clocks dating back 100 years or more.

"Even though today's technology is impressive, I always ask whether it can be fixed, or whether it will be around in 300 years' time," he said.

"A hand-made clock captures a little of the maker's personality and will continue to tick on long after its creator had departed."