Chiming in the Spanish New Year
December 31st, 2009
Losada House watchmakers yesterday made the latest revision to of Spain’s most famous clock, that of Puerta del Sol in Madrid, to ensure the perfect running of the twelve strokes at midnight that will herald the new year of 2010.
Jesus Lopez-Terra, who along with two companions, has been “caring” for the clock since 1977, explained that although they have been doing this work for more than thirty years, there are “always a lot of nerves the New Year nears.”
The historic clock arrived in Madrid from London in 1865 and still retains 98% of it’s original equipment. The watchmakers work on it throughout the year, checking the clock at least twice a week “to lubricate and re-balance the weights” says Lopez-Terre. As they approach the big day, “the maintenance is intensified, and everything is revised up to a point where we cannot even contemplate the possibility of failure.”
The last few hours are “crucial”, from nine at night the three watchmakers are locked inside the clock where, for 31 years, each has an assigned mission: one is responsible for manually lowering the golden ball that sets off the chimes, the other watches the second hand and a third controls the overall process. The watchmakers said they are always surprised by “the outbreak of the people” after the last stroke.
And while everyone shares kisses, toasts and east twelve grapes in search of luck for the new year, the watchmakers will continue their work and this year hope that “2010 will be better for everyone and we will soon be looking back at the crisis in which we currently find ourselves.”
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