David Lee has operated this Lake Bluff institution for 35 years.
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Tuesday, August 28, 2012
David Lee of Lake Forest has been Lake Bluff’s timekeeper for 35 years fixing clock and watches while selling a few as well. Last week Patch’s Jesse Carpender had the chance to Visit Lee’s shop—The Clockworks—and get to know Lee and his staff a little better. He gave an oral history of clock making and clocks themselves. Today Patch is showing you how Lee does his work. For more news and updates from Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch, subscribe to our daily e-newsletter, ”Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
David Lee shares the meaning behind a dying art
“I get to work with a piece of history,” David Lee, owner of The Clockworks, Lake Bluff's timepiece shop, said. “Some clocks are 200 or 300 years old. The frustration is that you can’t talk to them and find out where they’ve been and what they’ve seen.” Fortunately, Lee, almost 70, can sometimes learn those stories from patrons who bring in their grandfather clocks, watches and music boxes for maintenance and repair. “Sometimes their stories are tenuous, relative to what they know about clocks,” He said. “Someone told me they had a clock that was their grandfather’s, brought over from Holland. Well, I looked at it and told them it was made in Connecticut. It must have been brought to Holland where their grandfather purchased it and …
George Moloney
1:19 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Great story! And ask David to sing a little barbershop music. He is a great singer! more ›