E-Paper
Silent sentinel of times gone by
MANY GOOD things may be missing from the world famous Cawnpore Woolen Mill (Lal Imli), but its ever ticking clock reminds one constantly of the old days, when these clocks used to play an important role in major industries.
MANY GOOD things may be missing from the world famous Cawnpore Woolen Mill (Lal Imli), but its ever ticking clock reminds one constantly of the old days, when these clocks used to play an important role in major industries.
Refreshing memory, old employees of the mill said they used to plan their daily routine with the help of this historic watch.
Fitted at the tower of Lal Imli at a height of 128 feet, the clock made by the King George Burner Company, is the only one of its kind in the entire country, claims the clock manufacturer of Lal Imli, David Massy.
The clock, has five bells made of gun-metal (Ashtta Dhatu) and weighs a staggering 7,120 kg. The biggest bell is 336 kg and the second one is about 124 kg while the other three weighing 84 kg each.
He said the components of the clock were brought from England in 1911 and it
took about 10 years to assemble the clock at the mill tower. It began ticking in 1921.
The clock with four dials of 7 feet and 8 inch-each, are fitted on the tower in the four directions. David said the winding, oiling and greasing of the clock was done under his supervision once in a week, on Saturdays.
The key used for winding the hour-bell is about 300 kg and six persons are required for three hours to twist the key.
Sources said the sound of the clock could be heard in a radius of 6 km. But, the same was reduced to save the clock tower, the Manager (P&A) Raja Mitra said.
Interestingly, there are a few more historical clocks in the city at Phool Bagh, Ghantaghar, Bijlighar, Kotwali and Kamla Tower, but none is quite like the one at Lal Imli.
According to David, his father, late Babu Massy, used to carry out the maintenance of all these clocks since 1934 barring the clock at Kamla Tower. After his death in 1979, he has been taking care of all the clocks.
However, at present two clocks, one at Kotwali and another at Bijli Ghar are not functioning. The clock fitted at Kotwali is out of order following poor maintenance whereas, the Bijalighar watch, which used to run by electricity, needs immediate repair and components worth Rs 2 lakh are required to get it working again.
When asked about whether he trained anybody to repair these clocks, David said his son, Dicky, has learnt a lot about repairing of these tower clocks.
