The maker of Gastown害羞草研究所檚 famous steam clock says some of the best years of his life were in Surrey.

害羞草研究所淚 lived in Guildford in the mid-1960s,害羞草研究所� Raymond Saunders recalled in a phone call. 害羞草研究所淚 was working at the Woodward害羞草研究所檚 store, where I was in charge of the watch and clock department for a few years before I moved.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 part of Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 distributed steam-heating system.

On Saturday (April 22), Saunders travelled back to Surrey to see 害羞草研究所淛ust Time,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所� collection.

害羞草研究所淚 bought the two that I like the most, hand-painted art, oil on canvas, and I collect those as a hobby,害羞草研究所� explained Saunders, who lives and still works as a horologist in Richmond, with his Landmark Clocks International.

害羞草研究所淢y office has lots of steam-clock pictures on the walls,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very gratifying how popular it害羞草研究所檚 become in the city, where it害羞草研究所檚 a must-see attraction for tourists, I guess. And I have two of them in Japan, too 害羞草研究所� the same model and patterns, and they害羞草研究所檙e more popular than the Gastown one. Sometimes there害羞草研究所檚 a thousand people standing around , and they all clap when it goes off.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淩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),害羞草研究所� said .

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

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.

害羞草研究所淚t just poured on us,害羞草研究所� Saunders said in 1990. 害羞草研究所淚t was raining outside and inside. We had boxes of nuts and bolts that were filled with water.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 83,害羞草研究所� he said, 害羞草研究所渁nd I害羞草研究所檓 trying to retire, but it害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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