Fred Mayes Jewelers Clock Restored

Last week City of Sacramento restored the historic Fred Mayes Jewelers clock to its home at 10th and J streets. Time stood still for the mid-20th century clock for 15 years until repair work began last June. The clock was returned to the period of its historical significance. – the art deco style popular when it was designated as a City historic landmark in June of 1982.

The clock is likely more than 100 years old, although the first clear evidence is a 1924 photo of the clock in its original design in front of 1009 K St., its original location. The clock on K Street was located outside the Wiesen and Monk Jewelers until the business was moved to its current location at 10th and J in 1946. It stood outside the one-time Mayor Art Monk’s jewelry store. The jewelry store was purchased by Fred Mayes in 1963. Mayes donated the clock to the City of Sacramento in 1993. Mayes retired in 1998. The clock’s exterior is different than when it left for the foundry in June. As historical experts recommended, a stainless steel case be added to prevent vandalism and preserve the original parts.

Some of the parts of the refurbished clock are new and others original: The mechanical clock movement has been replaced with a modern electronic movement, which will not require winding. The clock will keep accurate time through GPS and will automatically correct itself after power outages or time changes. The imported Italian neon will highlight the art deco engagement style ring design topped off with an illuminated diamond solitaire.

Above info provided by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Fred Mayes Jewelers’ Clock Restoration

Today the City of Sacramento Department of Transportation loaded up the only public street clock still remaining on the streets of Downtown Sacramento and haul it away for restoration.

The refurbishing of the clock to the period of its historical significance will take place at the Art Foundry & Gallery Downtown. The clock will be restored to the most recent “art moderne” style at the time it was designated as a City historic landmark in June of 1982. The project team expects the repairs to take the entire summer, with the clock being returned to 10th and J around the first week in September.

Restoration of Historic Mayes Jewelers' Street Clock

This Tuesday the City Council will recommend the preservation and restoration of the Fred Mayes Jewelers' Street Clock at the corner of 10th and J Street. With the efforts of both Greig Best (an interested citizen), the City's Historic Places Grant Program, Council Member Tretheway's office, and the Redevelopment Agency, funds will be designated to restore this City designated Landmark. Its ownership will also be formally transferred to the City through the Department of Transportation since the street clock is located within the public right-of-way.

The clock will be restored to the style as modified while at its' original K Street location by Tom Monk (the neon ring addition) before the clock was moved to its current location in front of the former Fred Mayes Jewelers store on J Street and then designated as a City historic Landmark. Mr.Best of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors have committed to assist in the project and to install the new timepiece (the"movement"). The Department of Transportation will contract for the clock removal and repair work, and will extend an electrical line so that the clock face and neon lights can be illuminated at night.

It’s estimated that the removal, repair and reinstallation of the Clock could be completed in the amount of $24,000. The restoration of the clock would be funded with $12,000 from the Historic Places Grant Program, $6,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds (per recommendation from Council Member Tretheway, District 1), and $6,000 from Merged Downtown Redevelopment Project tax increment funds (from funds allocated for J,K, and L Street Enhancements). The Clock was originally manufactured in Seattle, likely in the early 1900s and was once owned by a former Mayor of Sacramento, Tom Monk, and was located in front of 1009 K Street near the current site of the Crest Theater.