Paul Hightower (Springfield, VA)
After a 30-year career in the army, I retired in 2004. I’m not exactly sure I should call it “retirement,” because two weeks later, I went to work for the Department of Homeland Security, where I’m still employed.

I got interested in clock repair through my father-in-law, who has collected a number of clocks over the years. Tthe quality of the repair I saw with his clocks and my own necessitated attempts to “improve” the repair work. This led me to enroll in the School of Horology program, one class at a time.

As it turns out, clock repair seems to be a perfect career I can carry forward when my wife and I move to Montgomery County, PA, next year. By then, I’ll have completed the classes and we’re starting to think about designs for the house we’ll build when we move.  At the same time, we’ll be making a decision about whether to have the shop at the same location, so we’re planning for everything simultaneously.

I found out about the School of Horology through my father-in-law and by visiting once to “check it out.” We toured the Museum at the same time. The staff has been very responsive in answering questions and sending information. I recently joined the NAWCC as well. I don’t find it difficult to take courses one-at-a-time with breaks in between. It’s kind of like riding a bike. The skills stay put and it all comes back when I return to the classroom. I find that in my military and current career, I tend to be good at organizing things. Clock repair demands that skill as well as precision.

This is work I enjoy, and it’s consistent with my personality. The instruction has been excellent with lots of hands-on practice, which is so important. It all builds confidence. Clock repair may seem very different from my background, but I will bring a professional attitude to the work, and I’m looking forward to this as my third career.

Carl Lair (Auburn, IL)
It only took one clock to get my interest in clock repair wound up. It was a mantel clock from about 1910 that belonged to my wife’s grandmother. It worked just great. But then, on vacation in Wyoming several years ago, we bought another mantel clock dating from the same time period, made by Sessions. That clock ran, but it would be fast or slow, and I started tinkering with it.  Later, I ended up buying some other clocks at auctions. They didn’t run at all. I met a clock auctioneer, Tom Harris, who deals in clocks of all kinds and he’s the person who told me about NAWCC, its local chapters, and the School of Horology. I joined several years ago, and I started taking classes in December 2006.

Right now, this is just a hobby, but already I have people bringing clocks to me when they find out about my training. Now I’m mostly working with my own collection pieces to gain more experience beyond the class projects.

On a fulltime basis I work as a database administrator for the comptroller’s office in Illinois state government. Somehow, working on clocks seems to fit my personality—and I must admit that there are some days at work that I’d rather be repairing clocks! I really enjoy the classes. Al Dodson certainly helps us build confidence in knowing we can take clocks apart, get them working, and put them back together correctly. If any of us, as students, encounter problems, he gives great hands-on attention and a patient explanation of how to fix the problem properly.

Probably my favorite style of clock is the Vienna Regulator. I’m interested in both the movements and the cases. Since Vienna Regulators were introduced around the beginning of the 19th century and were still being made up through the 1920s, there were a lot of changes in the styles of the cases over the years, reflecting changes in furniture styles of the various periods. Even though they’re my favorites, I’m looking forward to working on clocks of all kinds…I’m always tinkering with something, and enjoying it.

Randy Cleaver (Takoma Park, MD)
Guess what happens when I put together a moon globe, a telephone base, a clock and a pendulum. Here’s a hint: it’s similar to what I get when I put Pabst beer cans together with a bank deposit box, a clock and cookie tins. Give up? OK, here’s the answer. In either case, the result is a fantastical, one-of-a-kind, found-object sculpture that just happens to keep time.

Actually, I started with found objects as an inexpensive way to acquire materials, but soon the objects themselves became a source of inspiration. I started creating sculptures; then I started adding clocks to them, mostly vintage with electrical movements. In my sculptures I like to use humor, provide the function of the clock almost as a bonus, build in a sense of history, and sometimes I can even incorporate sound. I also build orrerys.

One thing led to another, and some of the clocks didn’t work when I got them. In order to use them, I had to get them back in order.  I think it was about 20 years ago that I came here to the NAWCC Museum as a tourist, and later I found out about the School. It’s the “clock” part of these (and many of my other sculptural timekeeping combinations) that brought me to the School of Horology clock repair program. I’m still active in my professional career of 25 years, which involves working on museum installations, fine arts packing and art handling, all of which grew from my fine arts training. But eventually I will be building up a traditional clock repair business as well as creating the found-object clocks.

Of course, I have a lot of spare parts and “inventory” lying around…luckily, my wife is a very supportive person! I love the classes. Al Dodson, the instructor, takes a very hands-on approach. I know I have to get in there and take things apart, which is a great way to learn. I’m taking the repair program straight through and really enjoying it.

Steve Loose (East Berlin, PA)
“Good timing” was everything in bringing me into the Clock Repair Program in April 2008. Back when I got out of college, my wife bought a schoolhouse clock kit because it was a clock style she wanted for our home. I put it together, but I couldn’t get it to run. We took it to a local clockmaker, a man who had a clock and gift shop. Well, he and I got to talking, and I started working with him. I liked the variety of work and appreciated the skills I learned, and I really enjoyed working on the clocks. That was a long time ago…in the meantime, my “real” career was in data processing and computer operating systems—a total of 32 years in the same profession. In January of this year my job was eliminated, and I was given an “early retirement” option. I was ready for a change anyway, but all of a sudden, I had to start thinking about what my next job would be.

It’s funny how things work out. I am a member of NAWCC, and my wife and I had visited the Watch and Clock Museum in October 2007. During our visit, I picked up brochures about the Museum, the School of Horology, and the Association, for no particular reason. After my job ended, I took another look at those brochures, as well as the School of Horology website, which included the schedule of classes. I remembered how much I had enjoyed working on clocks, and the timing was certainly right, so I enrolled.

I can’t say enough good things about this school—it’s amazing, and instructor Al Dodson is terrific. The hands-on experience is matched with theory and subjects like metallurgy, which I had no idea I’d be getting into. We have quizzes and a final exam. We learn presentation skills, and yes, there’s even homework! Now my plan is to start a clock repair business. Maybe at first I’ll take “overflow” work from another repair shop that has a backlog of work and build up my business from there, or perhaps I’ll work in the same shop with another repair person. I also want to investigate getting exposure through having a stand at an antique mall.

I’ve always been pretty good at problem determination. In computer work, I was tasked with keeping things running efficiently and fixing things when they didn’t. It seems to me that in clock repair, I’ll be doing the same thing. It fits my personality! And that original kit clock? I think my wife eventually sold it at a yard sale—but I have acquired a few other clocks over the years, including one I bought at an auction that just won’t keep running. I plan to go back to it with my new skills—when I get time.