A little time,
given back.
I keep old mechanical clocks, their small imperfections, and a notebook about the work they ask of me.
Meet the clocks
A still drawing, rather than a live clock.
I'm Marten, an amateur clock restorer in Ghent. The work happens at a small desk near the window, usually after dinner. I like objects that invite a closer look before they tell you much about themselves: a rubbed edge, a pencilled date inside a case, or a hand that somebody replaced long before I found it.
Under the lamp
My first project was a narrow mantel clock with a door that would not close cleanly. I expected a grand mechanical mystery. The first useful evening involved looking carefully at a loose hinge and making a drawing of how the case fitted together.
Since then I have learned to begin with a record. A clock can stay on the desk for several days while I note its condition, listen, and decide what deserves attention. The notebook makes a quiet sort of progress visible, even when the case looks exactly as it did yesterday.
Read the latest bench notes