Spotlight: Blackstone Manor Clock Repair
by Nora m. Davis (HBCA)—September 2008
Mark Purdy, owner of Blackstone Manor Clock Repair
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, plus the occasional gong, bell, chime and cuckoo, punctuated my visit to Blackstone Manor Clock Repair in Downtown Hopkins. Owner Mark Purdy told me he doesn’t really hear the sounds anymore—they’re just background to him.
A tour of the shop revealed every imaginable kind of clock. French clocks, German clocks, cuckoo clocks, Grandfather clocks, even one made completely of wood! The wooden clock—a Connecticut Shelf clock—was from the 1800's. I also saw an old punch time clock that Mark is in the process of repairing! And I learned that clocks do not have gears, they have wheels.
Mark can best be described as a "clock whisperer"—he knows, appreciates, and certainly understands what makes a clock tick. He’s been known to adopt a clock or two when he’s discovered that an old clock no longer has a home. Many of the clocks that come into Blackstone Manor Clock Repair represent someone’s family and history. Mark has a deep appreciation of the history of each clock, noting that earlier craftsmen dated and signed the clock after a repair. One of the clocks he repaired had signatures dating back to the 1700’s!
I asked Mark how he came to be a clock repairman. He explained he’d been laid off twice and decided he needed to find an occupation with more stability. Mark’s brother had a jewelry store in Jamestown, North Dakota so he spent time there, learning to repair clocks. Next stop was employment at Kuempel Chime Clock Works & Studio in Excelsior, where he honed his clock repairing skills. The desire to start his own business surfaced while Mark was at Kuempel, and so Blackstone Manor Clock Repair was born. In a unique arrangement with Kuempel he stayed and Blackstone Manor became their in-house clock repair. When Kuempel closed, it was time to move and Hopkins beckoned. (You’ll need to stop and ask Mark how his business became known as Blackstone Manor Clock Repair…)
Mark is in the shop 7 am to 3 pm—after that he’s off making "house calls." Some of the clocks are too large to be easily transported so Mark goes to the clock. He’ll remove the movement, then clean & oil it. If it needs additional repair, he’ll take it back to the shop for further work. One of his more unique house calls was to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for a repair on their 100-year-old Tiffany Clock. That particular house call required a tall step ladder as the clock is over ten feet tall. So the next time you head to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, check out the clock and be witness to Mark’s handiwork.
Mark is well known throughout the metro area for his clock repairing skills, has brought his customers with him to Hopkins and is a welcome addition to our Downtown!
Blackstone Manor Clock Repair is located at 815 Mainstreet. Hours are 7 am - 3 pm, Monday – Friday, and 9 am to noon on Saturdays. Phone is 952-920-1300. Visit www.blackstonemanorclockrepair.com.
