Turkish clock winder keeps time at historic clock tower for quarter-century

ESKISEHIR, TURKEY - OCTOBER 11: A 70-years-old Turkish man has dedicated his life to wind a historic clock tower in Turkey's central Eskisehir province during the last quarter-century. Sivrihisar district of Eskisehir had hosted many civilizations, such as Hittites, Phrygians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans, in the history. Therefore, the district has many historic monuments and remains belonging to a lot of civilizations. One of them is the Sivrihisar Clock Tower that was built by Mahmut Bey in the Ottoman era in 1899. Hasan Huseyin Gurkan, the clock winder of the 121-years-old historic clock tower, said he has taken responsibilities of the manual-winding and maintenance of the clock tower 23 years ago. “I have been doing this job, which I have taken over from my mentor, for about 20-22 years. I really do not remember the exact years,” he said. Gurkan sets up the right and left weights, which are 400 kilograms (881 pounds) each, every four days, and keeps the clock running and the clock bell to ring. "The clock does not stop if it is winded every 4-5 days. I come and wind it every 3-4 days. If I am going out of town, I consider my return time and wind the clock. If the clock is winded once, it does not stop within four or five days. Thus, I can go out of town. There currently is no one to help me. I continue to work alone and I am trying to make this job continue on my own," he said. Stressing the importance of the tower for him, Gurkan said despite the coronavirus outbreak, he will continue to carry out maintenance and wind the clock as long as his health conditions allow him, adding that he only can hand over the responsibility of the clock tower to a reliable person. (Footage by Deniz Açık/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
ESKISEHIR, TURKEY - OCTOBER 11: A 70-years-old Turkish man has dedicated his life to wind a historic clock tower in Turkey's central Eskisehir province during the last quarter-century. Sivrihisar district of Eskisehir had hosted many civilizations, such as Hittites, Phrygians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans, in the history. Therefore, the district has many historic monuments and remains belonging to a lot of civilizations. One of them is the Sivrihisar Clock Tower that was built by Mahmut Bey in the Ottoman era in 1899. Hasan Huseyin Gurkan, the clock winder of the 121-years-old historic clock tower, said he has taken responsibilities of the manual-winding and maintenance of the clock tower 23 years ago. “I have been doing this job, which I have taken over from my mentor, for about 20-22 years. I really do not remember the exact years,” he said. Gurkan sets up the right and left weights, which are 400 kilograms (881 pounds) each, every four days, and keeps the clock running and the clock bell to ring. "The clock does not stop if it is winded every 4-5 days. I come and wind it every 3-4 days. If I am going out of town, I consider my return time and wind the clock. If the clock is winded once, it does not stop within four or five days. Thus, I can go out of town. There currently is no one to help me. I continue to work alone and I am trying to make this job continue on my own," he said. Stressing the importance of the tower for him, Gurkan said despite the coronavirus outbreak, he will continue to carry out maintenance and wind the clock as long as his health conditions allow him, adding that he only can hand over the responsibility of the clock tower to a reliable person. (Footage by Deniz Açık/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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DETAILS

Restrictions:
NO SALES IN AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY, MIDDLE EAST AND THE BALKANS.
Editorial #:
1279625522
Collection:
Anadolu
Date created:
11 October, 2020
Upload date:
Licence type:
Rights-ready
Release info:
Not released. More information
Clip length:
00:03:05:22
Location:
Eskisehir, Turkey
Mastered to:
QuickTime 8-bit H.264 HD 1920x1080 25p
Source:
Anadolu Video
Object name:
turkish_clock_winder_keeps_time_at_historic_clock_tower_for_