In 1977, self-taught clockmaker Ray Saunders created one of the most iconic sights in Vancouver: The Gastown Steam Clock.
However, the beloved local man's clock work went much further than the one iconic timepiece. He made many public clocks around B.C. (from Revelstoke to Nanaimo), took care of local clocks (like the Birks Clock on Granville), and amassed a large collection of timepieces.
His clocks have also shown up on streets in Japan and Australia; he built more than 200 over his career.
Saunders passed away on Nov. 23, 2024. Now his family has decided the clock collection, tools, and more of his items should move on to other fans of Saunders and timepieces instead of being left in a storehouse.
"He just had a real connection to Vancouver itself, and sharing things with the people of this city would have really brought him a lot of pleasure," says Saunders' son-in-law Gareth Kirkham.
An auction started on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. A separate one already ended earlier this year.
"This is an opportunity for people who knew Ray or heard of him to get a little piece of history," says Kirkham. "Most of the items now are watches and clocks."
He notes that Saunders was an active horologist and collector with some interesting pieces in his possession.
"For the most part, it is very old pocket watches, railway watches, and an assortment of wristwatches and items like that," Kirkham says.
Railway watches were used by railway companies to make sure trains were running on time and had to be sophisticated, accurate, and portable.
"They were very highly sought after," Kirkham says of the railway watches. "That's a bygone era. They're more of a keepsake or conversational piece."
From a tinkerer to a timekeeper
Saunders grew up with a father who was interested in ham radio and he got into taking machines and electronics apart when he was young, Kirkham says.
He went to Van Tech, where he learned more about metalwork and machines. His interest in clocks started there, though he didn't receive any formal training in clock-making (aside from a few classes on watches).
"He was very much a self-trained expert," says Kirkham. "And became one of the stalwarts of the clock-making community."
Saunders would go on to become president of the Clock Collectors Association of British Columbia and remained involved in the horology community.
Given his work in horology in B.C., the fame of the Gastown Steam Clock, and the other public clocks he created, Saunders' family nominated him for the Order of B.C. several times, but the honour was never approved by the province.
"It was disappointing," says Kirkham. "We were dismayed the province couldn't find its way to honour someone who's a representative of this city throughout the world."
He's hopeful that the auction will help Saunders' legacy continue.
"We've got our memories, and we've got the things that keep Ray close to us," Kirkham says. "We know that Ray meant a lot to the city, so to give others the opportunity to enjoy these things...is important."
