by Knight Trainees

Okay. It's official. I'm now a "radio photographer." Collecting these pics was great fun. I stopped in a watch/clock shop in Old Town Kensington, MD. The watch repairman, Yakov (referred to as a "watchmaker" by his colleagues at the counter), was kind enough to let me peer over his shoulder while he worked. He even gave me a little advice for keeping better time on my own watch. In this day and age, when so much of our technology is built to be tossed when it quits - not repaired - I find it darned reassuring there's still a man like Yakov in the world, making the old new again.

Cory

  • Kensington Clock & Watch Repair in Old Town Kensington, MD
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    Kensington Clock & Watch Repair in Old Town Kensington, MD
  • Watchmaker Yakov works at his desk, in the corner of one of the shop's tightly packed showrooms.
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    Watchmaker Yakov works at his desk, in the corner of one of the shop's tightly packed showrooms.
  • Yakov at his desk, surrounded by plastic containers brimming with watch faces, hands, and wheels.
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    Yakov at his desk, surrounded by plastic containers brimming with watch faces, hands, and wheels.
  • Containers of watch parts stacked in the corner of Yakov's desk.
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    Containers of watch parts stacked in the corner of Yakov's desk.
  • The view from Yakov's desk. Most of these grandfather clocks are new and years away from needing his expertise.
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    The view from Yakov's desk. Most of these grandfather clocks are new and years away from needing his expertise.
  • The turned urn finial of a grandfather clock. In the background, some of the dozens of hanging clocks in the showroom.
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    The turned urn finial of a grandfather clock. In the background, some of the dozens of hanging clocks in the showroom.
  • Watchmaker Yakov at work refurbishing a wristwatch.
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    Watchmaker Yakov at work refurbishing a wristwatch.
  • Working on the solid gold face of an antique pocket watch.
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    Working on the solid gold face of an antique pocket watch.
  • A petri dish of watch parts, always close at hand.
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    A petri dish of watch parts, always close at hand.
  • Yakov has been keeping time since 1976.
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    Yakov has been keeping time since 1976.

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