The mechanical engineer Osmell Cruzata , team leader , told Radio Rebelde that the clock has a winding mechanism and chime . “We have no idea who made it, but if the name of the firm or the person who imported it, stamped on the metal structure of the machine: JM Zabarraitias , who acquired it in Europe and moved to Havana , and the number 1913 , indicating the date it was built . “
He added that it was not until 1940 that were located in the current Math Faculty, “yet there is no reliable reference of what happened between 1913 and 1940 with this clock, which has an area of about three feet.”
The event is recorded in the archives of the University of Havana: entered the country in 1913, and bought for this educational center.
Osmell also commented that despite being in the Math Faculty, a central location of the University, or students, nor teachers knew of its existence, so at first we call this away: ” I saw while we were recovering the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Havana in the third floor, noticed that had a bell and began to investigate, at that moment we ventured to discover if he could repair ” .
” First produce a piece that would diagnose the state of the clock, located in a place where public access was not , therefore , we were lucky that the original parts were not lost , it was a job that also included cleaning and lubrication ” .
” We note that there was no leveling bases , so we made some that give a leveling allow the retention over time , so that the clock that requires a lot of precision , to maintain its operation .”
Certainly describes what happened: “It was a lot of patience to deal with unknown task, it was not the amount of work, not difficult, but to venture into a new field with great care, because it was a watch manufactured a century , yet always had the confidence to fix it, and we did . “
“We thought it must be others in the city who need grooming, and currently inquired about these as they are willing to lend our aid , and thus contribute to Havana more welcoming and friendly by history, functionality and beauty of their clocks , ” affirmed Osmell , a researcher become creative .
The centenarian clock is now part of everyday life of students and faculty of the University of Havana, its bells warn everyone about the passage of time, what happens in the present, and what is to come.
Translated by: Daysi Olano
