Raymond saunders clockmaker series#

The Gastown Steam Clock remains a fixture in the city and continues to draw onlookers from all over the world. There's even a near-replica of Vancouver's clock in Otaru, Japan, also made by Raymond Saunders. Raymond Saunders is a Canadian clockmaker who has designed and built more than 150 customized clocks that mainly serve as tourist attracting public artworks. The chime volume has also been gradually lowered, as it used to rattle nearby windows. Over the years it's been damaged by cars and was temporarily taken down for some much-needed repairs to the timing mechanism several years ago. Its bronze base weighs roughly 2,200 pounds. Gastown's clock design was Victorian-inspired as a way to preserve the historic feel of the neighbourhood. The steam is also responsible for the clock’s distinctive noise, which produces the Westminster chime melody (the same as London's Big Ben) on five brass whistles every quarter-hour.

Raymond saunders clockmaker series#

They actually ran it, when it was unveiled, with an auxiliary electric motor and that's what's happened ever since,' explains civic historian John Atkin.Ī facility near the Georgia Viaduct provides steam underground that is channelled into the base of the clock and pressurized by a series of valves. A tiny auxiliary electric motor inside the clock also works in tandem with a gravity-fed chain drive that uses steel balls to move the clock's hands. 'Steam and the reliability of that proved to be a problem. The clock mechanism was inspired by an 1875 British clock tower design.ĭespite its name, the old timekeeper is only partially steam-powered. The clock's steam engine was manufactured in England and is a type usually used by hobbyists to power large model boats. The clock was originally constructed to cover a steam grate that was part of the city's steam-heating distribution system. The price tag at the time of installation was $58,000. It was paid for by the city, local businesses, and private donors. Nestled at the corner of Cambie and Water streets, it's one of only a handful of working steam clocks in the world. Gastown's famous steam clock was built as a tourist attraction in 1977 by renowned local horologist (clockmaker) Raymond Saunders.

In 2019 Ray was badly injured in a fall, and has been semi-retired since.It's one of Vancouver's most iconic landmarks. He has also built a clock for Vancouver's York House School's 78th birthday in 2010. Saunders has since built six different public steam clocks for clients such as the city of Otaru, Japan, and the Indiana State Museum.

The Gastown clock may be the first steam clock ever built, although there is evidence that 19th century British engineer John Inshaw made a steam clock after which was named a Birmingham pub. In 1977 he was commissioned to build a steam clock for the Gastown district of Vancouver, Canada. Raymond Saunders is a Canadian clockmaker who has designed and built more than 150 customized clocks that mainly serve as tourist-attracting public artworks. JSTOR ( February 2017) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful.įind sources: 'Raymond Saunders' clockmaker – news This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification.