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Clemente Olvera Trejo looks over a clock made at his factory in Zacatlan, Mexico. The 9-foot-tall bronze, steel and aluminum clock was installed this week at the World of Wonders Science Museum in Lodi. Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Olvera clock to be a museum centerpiece — it's a symbol of ties between Lodi, Zacatlan
A symbol of Lodi's burgeoning ties to Zacatlan, Mexico will ring out every 15 minutes at the World of Wonders Science Museum, where a massive Relojes Olvera clock was installed this week.
The elaborate bronze and steel creation was made in Zacatlan, a midsize agricultural city that may one day become a sister city of Lodi.
Three large metal weights hang below the clock. The weights pull the many gears in the heart of the creation, which in turn set two large black hands in motion.
The clock stands 9 feet tall and weighs more than 600 pounds.
Three bronze bells sound in harmony every quarter hour.
"I'm really impressed — it's fantastic," said Steve Hohn, owner of Lodi's House of Clocks, as he got a crash course on how to maintain the clock Monday.
Paul Mertz, a Lodi real estate agent, has worked to build ties with Zacatlan. He recently traveled to the city to meet with clock builder Clemente Olvera Trejo, who aided with this week's installation.
"I feel very happy (the) clock is here," said Olvera Trejo, a third-generation clock builder, whose creations can be found across Mexico, Central America and South America.
"I am happy in my heart," he added.
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A similar clock is at San Francisco's Exploratorium. Only one other has been shipped to the United States, to Oakland's St. Elizabeth High School.
Relojes Olvera hopes to eventually sell its clocks throughout the United States, said Daniel Moreno, the company's marketing manager.
A $14,000 donation from Dick Davis, a former board member at San Francisco's Exploratorium, paid for the clock and its shipment, according to Sally Snyde, WOW museum president.
An educational display and Plexiglass case will be constructed for the clock, Mertz noted. The Lodi Realtors Association will pay for those, and for the maintenance of the clock.
He added that there's growing interest in adding Zacatlan as a Lodi sister city, though more work must be done.
The same goes for the museum: A soft public opening is planned for November.
Snyde, the museum president, said the clock will be a great addition.
"The neat thing about it is it's going to educate children about how clocks work," she said. "And it is a beautiful centerpiece."
Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.
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Reader Feedback
DavidD wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:15 AM:
Please visit and sign up for our newsletter to be informed when our soft opening and grand opening will be. "
Lodian wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:04 AM:
boonablis wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:35 AM:
Folks from the Galt region are trying to figure that "future contraption" out.
What is going to be next horseless carriages????????
Jeez! "
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