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Gastown Steam Clock maker visits B.C. gallery, recalls time living in Surrey

Raymond Saunders worked at Woodward香蕉视频直播檚 years before he made his most famous clock
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Raymond Saunders in front of Helmut Gruntorad香蕉视频直播檚 photograph of Gastown香蕉视频直播檚 famous steam clock at Newton Cultural Centre in Surrey on April 22. Saunders was commissioned to make the steam clock in 1977. (Photo: Anna Burns)

The maker of Gastown香蕉视频直播檚 famous steam clock says some of the best years of his life were in Surrey.

香蕉视频直播淚 lived in Guildford in the mid-1960s,香蕉视频直播 Raymond Saunders recalled in a phone call. 香蕉视频直播淚 was working at the Woodward香蕉视频直播檚 store, where I was in charge of the watch and clock department for a few years before I moved.香蕉视频直播

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 that香蕉视频直播檚 part of Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 distributed steam-heating system.

On Saturday (April 22), Saunders travelled back to Surrey to see 香蕉视频直播淛ust Time,香蕉视频直播 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 Saunders香蕉视频直播 collection.

香蕉视频直播淚 bought the two that I like the most, hand-painted art, oil on canvas, and I collect those as a hobby,香蕉视频直播 explained Saunders, who lives and still works as a horologist in Richmond, with his Landmark Clocks International.

香蕉视频直播淢y office has lots of steam-clock pictures on the walls,香蕉视频直播 he added. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very gratifying how popular it香蕉视频直播檚 become in the city, where it香蕉视频直播檚 a must-see attraction for tourists, I guess. And I have two of them in Japan, too 香蕉视频直播 the same model and patterns, and they香蕉视频直播檙e more popular than the Gastown one. Sometimes there香蕉视频直播檚 a thousand people standing around , and they all clap when it goes off.香蕉视频直播

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.

香蕉视频直播淩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),香蕉视频直播 said .

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Tom Zillich聮s February 1990 story about Ray Saunders in the WestEnder newspaper.
Tom Zillich香蕉视频直播檚 February 1990 story about Ray Saunders in the WestEnder newspaper.

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.

香蕉视频直播淚t just poured on us,香蕉视频直播 Saunders said in 1990. 香蕉视频直播淚t was raining outside and inside. We had boxes of nuts and bolts that were filled with water.香蕉视频直播

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

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 83,香蕉视频直播 he said, 香蕉视频直播渁nd I香蕉视频直播檓 trying to retire, but it香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播



tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com

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Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news for Surrey Now-Leader and Black Press Media
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