Image by: Patrick Skahill

Clockmaker Ray Pavkov works in his shop

Vanishing Craftsmen: The Clockmaker

From: WNPR
Length: 03:10

One craftsman is disposing of our throwaway culture - one clock at a time. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Vanishing Craftsmen: The Clockmaker
From: WNPR

Picture_014_small

Clockmaker Raymond Pavkov trained for more than 8,000 hours to qualify as a master clockmaker. Since then he's spent years crafting, refitting and repairing antique clocks.

Pavkov works out of the Yankee Clock Peddler on Whitney Avenue in North Haven, Connecticut. He trained under a seventh-generation master clockmaker whose biggest piece of advice was to "always put yourself in the maker's place."

Producer Patrick Skahill visited his shop to gain insight into the art and craft that goes into working on the one thing most people will never throwaway - their antique clocks.

For more stories on Connecticut Craftsmen, check out WNPR's visit to a blacksmith's shop in Mystic.

More from WNPR

The Needle Drop: 06-05-13 (57:01)
From: WNPR

New music from Quasimoto, Bibio, Integrity and more.

The Needle Drop: 05-29-13 (57:01)
From: WNPR

New music from the Uncluded and This Routine Is Hell!

The Needle Drop: 05-22-13 (57:02)
From: WNPR

New music from Daft Punk, The Uncluded, and Altar of Plagues.

The Needle Drop: 05-08-13 (57:02)
From: WNPR

New music from Savages, The Haxan Cloak, Jenny Hval, and more.

The Needle Drop: 05-01-13 (57:02)
From: WNPR

New music from Ghostface Killah, Colin Stetson, and more.

The Needle Drop: 04-24-13 (57:01)
From: WNPR

New music from Big K.R.I.T., Kurt Vile, Gold Panda, and more.

The Needle Drop: 04-17-13 (57:01)
From: WNPR

New music from the Knife, James Blake, TNGHT, and more.

The Needle Drop: 04-10-13 (57:02)
From: WNPR

New music from Lapalux, The Mary Onettes, Phosphorescent, and more.

The Needle Drop: 04-03-13 (57:01)
From: WNPR

New music from The Drones, Kvelertak, KEN mode, and more

The Needle Drop: 03-27-13 (57:02)
From: WNPR

New tracks from Vampire Weekend, Savages, David Bowie, and more.

Piece Description

Clockmaker Raymond Pavkov trained for more than 8,000 hours to qualify as a master clockmaker. Since then he's spent years crafting, refitting and repairing antique clocks.

Pavkov works out of the Yankee Clock Peddler on Whitney Avenue in North Haven, Connecticut. He trained under a seventh-generation master clockmaker whose biggest piece of advice was to "always put yourself in the maker's place."

Producer Patrick Skahill visited his shop to gain insight into the art and craft that goes into working on the one thing most people will never throwaway - their antique clocks.

For more stories on Connecticut Craftsmen, check out WNPR's visit to a blacksmith's shop in Mystic.

Broadcast History

WNPR, Connecticut Public Radio - June 11, 2010

Transcript

(Chimes Ringing)

My name is Raymond Pavkov. I’m a certified master clockmaker.

Chimes Ringing (ambi bed)

My mom says when I’d get a wagon or a bicycle, first thing I’d do is take the wheels off and grease the axels. So, working around gears and cogs all my life, I just kind of had an interest in it.

(Bells Ringing)

The apprenticeship that I started with was with a master clockmaker out in Guilford. He was actually a seventh generation clockmaker, so he was very well versed in the art and the craft of clock restoration.

(Chimes fade)

The first thing I learned was by mistake and that was before you take nuts and bolts off of a clock, you have to make sure you’ve released all of the power. Because if you don’t let down the spring, things will go flying, and I’ve picked up many pieces off of the floor in my first days.

(Winding clock)

I hear a lot of sounds … tick tock tick tock...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Today, most people buy new things rather than repair things that break.

But as WNPR's Patrick Skahill found out, one local businessman is disposing of our throwaway culture, by repairing something most families refuse to throw away - their antique clocks.

OUTRO: