Master clockmaker brassed off as unique timepiece is stolen

IT was Archie McQuater's "labour of love". The 80-year-old master clockmaker spent four years perfecting his unique timepiece – only for it to be snatched by a gang of thieves.

The brass tidal clock, worth £2000, was taken from the walls of Craiglea Clocks in Morningside – where Mr McQuater still works – on Wednesday afternoon. Police believe one man deliberately distracted the manager, Ronnie Rafter, while a man and a woman stole two clocks.

The tidal clock displays the phases of the moon and tides on its face, and is twice as accurate as traditional designs.

Mr McQuater, who lives in Esslemont Road, Livingston, said: "It's a very, very special clock. There's only one of its kind in the world. It's my own design.

"It's a labour of love. I spent a year making this clock. After it was made in 2005, I've made a few changes to it.

"I was devastated when Ronnie told me it was stolen. At first I was shell-shocked, then I felt angry about it. All the clocks I make have great sentimental value.

"The police think they were professional thieves. My clock was on the wall with a lot of barometers – it would stand out. I don't know if they knew what they were after – it's got my name on it and could be hard to sell."

Mr McQuater has worked as a clockmaker since he was 14 and still works four days a week, as he "loves his job".

Mr Rafter was preparing to close the shop at the time of the theft. He said: "We had a few people all in at once. A man and a woman came in and had a look around. Then this chap came in and began talking to me.

"They didn't speak to each other, but I have the impression now they were all in cahoots.

"When I was putting the grilles down, I noticed a clock had been taken from the window. Then I saw the tidal clock was missing. I thought at first Archie might have moved it, but when I called him I realised it had been stolen."

The tidal clock has "Archie McQuater, Edinburgh" printed on its face. The other stolen clock was worth £500.

A police spokeswoman said: "These clocks are very distinctive, and it is likely they'll end up being sold on. We would ask anyone who is offered one to contact police immediately."

They are also keen to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area on Wednesday afternoon.

The couple are described as white, and in their late 30s or early 40s, with local accents. The man was around 6ft, with brown short wavy hair, and was wearing jeans and a sky blue polo shirt. The shirt had a distinctive white collar with horizontal black stripes over it.

The woman was around 5ft 6in, slim, with brown shoulder-length hair, which was tied back. She was wearing light-coloured clothing, a gilded belt and smart shoes. The other man is white, around 5ft 6in, stocky, with a full face. He was in his late 30s or early 40s, and had shaved fair hair.


A LABOUR OF LOVE
ARCHIE McQuater created his Moon and Sun Tidal Clock in response to a challenge set by Dr John Amson in 2005.

The retired academic challenged clockmakers to come up with a design to improve moon time clocks, which have been around since the 17th century. These can be up to an hour off the mark.

Mr McQuater's clock is far more complex than traditional designs. It has extra gears controlling the tide hand, providing two inputs – for the sun as well as the moon. It needs winding up once a week, and he is confident it will never go more than half an hour out of time.

But Mr McQuater has no plans to market it commercially, since modern computer technology is more efficient.