Sunny. High 86F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..
Mainly clear. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Long ago, when my wife and I bought our first home, my parents gave us an antique schoolhouse clock for a housewarming present. Ever since, the clock’s gentle tick-tock and hourly chimes have helped make our house a home. I learned to enjoy the weekly winding the clock required, and the occasional minor adjustment to the hands. After many productive years, though our clock started needing winding more frequently, to the point where I was winding it every few days. That prompted me to take it in to The Clocksmith, in San Carlos. Because that shop’s proprietor was so busy at the time — this was perhaps 20 years ago — it was several months before I got the clock back. But the sight and sounds of our beloved clock made it all worthwhile.
A year or so prior to COVID, I noticed that once again our prized clock was requiring more frequent winding. As well, it occasionally would chime the hour, and then immediately chime the next. I put up with this behavior for a while, and then, when COVID hit and the world temporarily ground to a halt, I resigned myself to waiting even longer. A year or so later, I realized there was no point in putting off a repair: I should just take the clock in and again endure the monthslong wait to get it back. But after several drive-by’s revealed that The Clocksmith never seemed to be open, I investigated only to learn that the proprietor had died, and that I would have to go elsewhere.
In searching for other options, I realized that clock repair seems to be a dying art: there are very few such places left in the Bay Area that will repair an old clock and, based on reviews, do it well. While I did eventually find someone who could do the job — Dorian Clair Antique Clock Repair — it necessitated a trip to San Francisco, a lengthy period of time without my clock (I was told that that the repair would take a minimum of six months, and so far it has been 10), and a not insubstantial amount of money. But it’ll all be worth it to have our clock back on our wall, tick-tocking again for many years to come.
Even though much of the world has gone to digital when it comes to timekeeping, given the amount of work that Dorian Clair has today (and the amount that The Clocksmith had right up to the end), there clearly remains a great deal of demand for this kind of work. Which makes me wonder why there aren’t more clock repair shops out there. While this clearly isn’t a business one can just start at the drop of a hat — a long apprenticeship would presumably be called for — it appears it would be a rewarding one for someone who enjoys working with their hands. And given what I paid for my clock’s repair, it seemingly could be lucrative as well.
A couple of months ago, while walking along Cordilleras Road on my way to Edgewood Park, the sole of my shoe started flapping, and then came completely off. Fortunately, the sole was still in good shape, and the helpful folks at Cinderella Shoe Service (on Woodside Road in Redwood City) were able to re-glue it to my shoe. But my visit woke me to the fact that, like clock repair shops, there also seem to be fewer shoe repair shops. Although most shoes these days are built to be disposable, rather than repairable, my wife continues to find Cinderella’s services handy. If Cinderella goes out of business — and someday they surely will — we’ll find ourselves having to choose from a dwindling number of shoe repair shops.
Remember shops that repaired electric razors? I remember taking mine in to one in Redwood City once or twice. However, that shop is long gone, and I’m not sure that anyone does that kind of work anymore.
While I will certainly be able to get some things repaired for years to come — I just made an appointment to get my car serviced, for one — it’s getting harder and harder to find people to repair more mundane items. I worry about the few remaining small independent shops and service people who keep our vacuum cleaners, sewing machines and kitchen appliances alive and kicking.
High tech may be all the rage in the Bay Area, but there is a lot of demand for repair people of all sorts. Training them is key. There seem to be trade schools still out there for some repair work, but for specialties — like clock repair — that likely train through apprenticeships, time is running out. Most of the people with the skills to do the training seem no longer young, and every day there are fewer of them.
Greg Wilson is the creator of Walking Redwood City, a blog inspired by his walks throughout Redwood City and adjacent communities. He can be reached at greg@walkingRedwoodCity.com. Follow Greg on Twitter @walkingRWC.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
DIGITAL ACCESS to all our award winning content online
Commenting capabilities on every story
Access to our daily e-edition for the past 90 issues
The good feeling of supporting real, local news in your community
DIGITAL ACCESS to all our award winning content (does not include e-edition) online
Commenting capabilities on every story
The good feeling of supporting real, local news in your community
Thank you for listening to Jerry drone on during the Rotary Lunch! As a reward, please enjoy one free month of access to the San Mateo Daily Journal's website and e-edition. Offer expires October 20, 2022, so sign up today!
Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.
Promotional Rates were found for your code.
Millbrae’s Japanese Culture Festival Committee will hold its 17th Annual Japanese Culture Fe… Read more
I agree with your comment, Mr. Wiesner. Thank you for posting it.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
If it breaks, we'll send it to you.
Join this email list to be kept abreast of breaking news.
Wake up to our carefully curated list of headlines with the Daily Journal's daily newsletter.
All the top stories -- local news, local sports, lifestyle, opinions, obituaries, entertainment, plus regional/national/global info to keep you informed. Newsletter arrives every morning for your convenience.
Would you like to receive our Marketing and Business Intelligence newsletter? The Daily Journal is proud to offer a newsletter providing vital information that will benefit your career, your business, and/or your organization.
Get updates on LOCAL SPORTS!
All the latest and greatest local sports headlines straight to your inbox. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, the Daily Journal will send you links to our best local sports stories.
If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now!