VERY RELIABLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 7, 21 September 1942, Page 2

VERY RELIABLE

OLD SWEDISH CLOCK IN NAVY

MADE IN THE YEAR 1785

Roekford, Illinois, is a mediumsized industrial town of the Middle West, with a large percentage of Swedes among its 86,000' population. Its citizens for many years liave haibitually cheeked their watches by the faithful ticking of an ancient Swedish clock in a jewellery store window. The clock has been there since 1911, when a clerk in the store came across the relic in a cellar. Under an inch of tlust, he found an inscription which identified the clock as the work of a Stockholm craftsman. It was dated 177") A.D. Cleaned and repaired, it kept excellent time despite its age. For thirty-one years it has continued to l keep time, a tribute to Swedish craftsmanship of the past. Then, not long ago, it disappeared. ft was not missing many days before Rock ford's citizenry began asking questions. Where was the old clock? The old clock is in the Navy now. It. has proved such a reliable timepiece that it was purchased by Uncle Sam for one of the ships of the United States fleet.