In the quiet rooms of the Zurich clock museum, where the passage of time is measured by the steady rhythm of roughly 500 historic timepieces, managing the seasonal clock change requires a meticulous touch rather than a rushed sweep of the hands. As standard time returns and clocks are turned back by an hour, institutions with antique mechanisms face a unique logistical challenge.
At the Uhrenmuseum zum Rösli, this task falls largely to 23-year-old watchmaker Anny Weber. Having completed her apprenticeship in Grenchen in 2023, she tends to the museum’s extensive collection spanning from 1450 to 1950. While the transition from daylight saving time brings an extra hour of sleep for the general public, it prompts a careful, pragmatic adjustment process inside the exhibition’s two floors of ticking and chiming artifacts.
Managing the Transition for Centuries-Old Mechanisms
Because the modern practice of shifting clocks seasonally was widely introduced in 1981, the oldest mechanical pieces in the museum were never designed to accommodate a time change. However, staff members do not embark on a frantic race across every room when the weekend arrives.
“Da die Zeitumstellung bereits 1981 eingeführt wurde, muss ich glücklicherweise nicht alle Uhren umstellen,” Weber explained regarding the scope of the work. Instead of resetting every single display, museum operators handle the adjustment as part of their routine maintenance. Because the timepieces are regularly examined and handled multiple times each day, staff pause selected mechanisms and restart them precisely one hour later.
The Delicate Art of Antique Clock Maintenance
Working with antique wooden-gear and iron clocks, as well as delicate pendulum wall models, demands a high degree of patience and technical expertise. Rushing the process can easily lead to mechanical damage.
“Man sollte nicht einfach die Zeiger zurückdrehen,” Weber warned, noting that forcing a jammed hand or encountering resistance within complex historic gear trains risks breaking fragile components. Every physical intervention inside these centuries-old housings must respect the historical integrity and intricate complications of the work.
While restoring and maintaining the collection, the museum maintains its own distinct auditory environment. Throughout the day, an orchestra of chimes and bells rings out from various exhibits, with some mechanisms sounding every quarter-hour. For the resident watchmaker, the constant symphony has simply faded into the background. “Ich höre es gar nicht mehr,” she noted.
Preserving History Across Two Floors
The museum’s collection—largely dedicated to Swiss horology originating from the legacy of Marta Gisler—presents a dense cross-section of European timekeeping history. From heavy iron structures to intricate table clocks, the focus remains on longevity and technical preservation. Weber’s daily responsibilities combine precision engineering with historical research, ensuring that these small mechanical marvels continue to function reliably.
As modern digital devices automatically synchronize to the new hour outside, the preservation of traditional timekeeping inside the museum relies on the steady hands of its caretakers. The work continues uninterrupted, balancing the demands of modern scheduling with the delicate realities of centuries-old craftsmanship.
