Jobs That No Longer Exist Today- #11
By DB
@dgobucks226 (37621)
March 5, 2021 9:45am CST
Continuing my series on interesting/strange occupations gone due to societal and technological changes.
Here's a job I'd like to get my "hands" around. Before the invention of the electric clock they had a profession called a clock winder. A job dedicated to the maintenance and care of keeping time.
CLOCK WINDER
These individuals would manually wind each clock to ensure they continued ticking for varying lengths of time. They were responsible for the clock's maintenance which required someone who was a dedicated worker to keep those clocks running. No vacations or late to work for these fellows!!! 
The invention and patenting of the electric clock using electric current by Alexander Bain, Scottish clockmaker in 1840, would put an eventual end to this "timely" profession.
It took awhile but when electric power became widely available in the 1890s it was just a "matter of time" before the clock winder profession faded like "sands in an hourglass." 
Although the job is effectively extinct, I did notice a Washington Times article that stated back in 2013, Buckingham Palace was advertising for a clock winder. Don't laugh, it paid $50,000 a year! Now the catch, the Queen has 1,000 clocks in her residence which need winding. 
What do you think about this occupation? Would you enjoy the job? Would you be able to "hand"-le the workload? Could you see yourself as the "key holder" in this job?
Can you name any giant structures/buildings using a clock which are still wound even today? I found a famous one... 
Source: Best Life & Wikipedia
Photo: time.com
The invention and patenting of the electric clock using electric current by Alexander Bain, Scottish clockmaker in 1840, would put an eventual end to this "timely" profession.
It took awhile but when electric power became widely available in the 1890s it was just a "matter of time" before the clock winder profession faded like "sands in an hourglass."
Although the job is effectively extinct, I did notice a Washington Times article that stated back in 2013, Buckingham Palace was advertising for a clock winder. Don't laugh, it paid $50,000 a year! Now the catch, the Queen has 1,000 clocks in her residence which need winding.
What do you think about this occupation? Would you enjoy the job? Would you be able to "hand"-le the workload? Could you see yourself as the "key holder" in this job?
Can you name any giant structures/buildings using a clock which are still wound even today? I found a famous one...
Source: Best Life & Wikipedia
Photo: time.com12 people like this
12 responses
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 That's a long time to wind the clock. I wonder if it will be automatic when they finish the repairs.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
13 Mar 21
Yes, Ben is currently under repairs. . Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs.
It is interesting. Wonder how someone becomes interested enough to want to do that job? Hmm...
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
15 Mar 21
@just4him Hmm. I don't know but I say no. I believe British are big on traditions.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 Watches used to be such a status symbol but now they are as cheap as chips.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
10 Mar 21
@JudyEv For some reason I just can't get rid of that cheap as chips wrist watch, lol. I still wear one. I find looking at my arm preferable to digging out my cell phone from my pocket 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
Yes, me too. I use to have some. My family has a wound up clock which they used for years until the spring broke. I currently have one although I often forget to wind it.
Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
9 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 Wow. That is a long time winding.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
Very cool! My family has a wound up clock which they used for years until the spring broke. I currently have one although I often forget to wind it.
Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs. That's it in the post photo.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22246)
• United States
9 Mar 21
Even though I have a fear of heights, I would love to have that job.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22246)
• United States
16 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 I just think it would be neat job.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
16 Mar 21
@JESSY3236 Ok, I agree. Something totally different. 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
13 Mar 21
I do not like heights either. Fear of falling. What attracts you to this kind of job?
Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs. That's the one in the photo.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
6 Mar 21
Being a clock winder would make me daffy. I can't think of any clocks that are still being wound today.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
9 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 Over an hour to wind it? Amazing.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Mar 21
@LindaOHio You need some strong forearms for that job, lol.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
Yes, you would definitely have to be focused on the correct time.
Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
Especially if you worked in Buckingham Palace. I was just thinking how tired my arm would be after winding all those clocks. I guess building up those forearms might be necessary 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Mar 21
@porwest 
Yes, that and including spinach in his diet.
Yes, that and including spinach in his diet.1 person likes this
@porwest (112812)
• United States
10 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 Maybe this is where Popeye got his start? lol
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
I remember having a wind up watch. And I have a wind up clock in my home but I often forget to wind it, lol.
Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs. That is it in the post picture...
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86652)
• United States
5 Mar 21
That’s be a nice job, as long as you didn’t get a phone all at 2 AM....”This is the Queen, would you come wind my clock?”
Starday Custom Press 510. The song "Who Winds Your Clock" was previously recorded by Bucky Bates on 4-Star 1295 in 1949, and rereleased later on 4-Star 1559 ...
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
7 Mar 21
Ha, ha.... Not the clock winding I was talking about, but the singer does have a point.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (79308)
• Germany
9 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 That was what I thought. I imagined that I could see those wonderful antique furnitures and the paintings of the awesome painters like Turner on the walls.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
I never thought about it that way. I was just thinking how tired my arm would be after winding all those clocks. But, it would be interesting to see the different kinds of clocks are in the palace
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
9 Mar 21
That is correct Carol! 
That's Big Ben in the post photo. Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs.
I own a wind up grandfather type clock but usually forget to wind it
That's Big Ben in the post photo. Fun Fact
The famous Big Ben clock in London is one that is still wound. Big Ben is wound three times a week, and the winding takes over an hour. Big Ben clock has been silenced in 2017 due to the tower needing repairs.
I own a wind up grandfather type clock but usually forget to wind it 1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
9 Mar 21
@dgobucks226 A beautiful clock for sure. An icon.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
13 Mar 21
Yes, a hard job for sure. I find myself using my wrist watch less and less. My car has a clock in it, I have a wall clock, and most times I don't need to be anywhere at a specific time. I do wear my watch when I go to the beach though. Don't want to be out in the sun too long
