New book details iconic Jessop Clock built by Point Loma jeweler

SAN DIEGO John Freeman s latest historical Legacy Book is about the iconic Jessop Clock created by the eponymous Point Loma jewelry family detailing the timepiece s contribution to San Diego history past present and future Titled Timeless Treasures The Legacy of the Jessop family Jessop s Jewelers and the world-famous Jessop Clock the book is a collaboration between now-retired jeweler Jim Jessop with Point Loma author John Freeman The -page tome chock-full of historic photos has been published by Amazon The timeless Jessop Clock built by family patriarch Joseph Jessop Sr was in recent months showcased in a segment of CBS San Diego s The Zevely Zone by Jeff Zevely The Jessop Clock is more than just a timepiece it s an engineering marvel that has captivated San Diegans and visitors alike for generations Zevely reported on his show Joseph Jessop Sr designed the clock with intricate details to encourage people to assessment it closely I think it was a ploy on the part of my great-grandfather to make people stop at the clock and spend an extra sparse moments studying the clock commented Jim Jessop clock creator Joseph Jessop s great-grandson Every person who comes and looks at the clock perpetually finds that little wood bear referring to a small bear figurine hidden within the clock s gears Of Timeless Treasures co-author Freeman reported the book tells the origins of the Jessop family s jewelry stores over the decades It also traces the history of the magnificent Jessop Clock which stood for decades downtown and ranks among the bulk enduring symbols of our city s past Freeman revealed Jim Jessop in Timeless Treasures speaks of his family s enduring contributions to the jewelry industry and the city This clock was built by my great-grandfather who designed it himself in his jewelry shop in downtown San Diego and the clock was built in that store he mentioned Jim Jessop noted that his great-grandfather s clock is unique in the world He was a watchmaker meaning he made pocket watches Jim Jessop mentioned And at the time all the parts were handmade They built the clock in downtown San Diego and set up a foundry behind the store where they made the big heavy brass wheels to drive this clock Joseph did all the calculating for the clock on a pencil and pad He had no calculators He didn t even have a slide rule It was all done by his knowledge of clocks He made a clock that stands feet high with the head of the clock about seven feet around with four faces on it Concerning the Jessop Clock s future Jim Jessop mentioned I m trying to raise million hoping that I can endow the clock As the family turns the clock over to the history center we ll have an endowment that will allow it to continue to be maintained in the way the family wants it forevermore The San Diego History Center hopes to have the Jessop Clock on permanent display by The Jessop family wants to recondition their historic timepiece because its age is showing Donations can be made to the effort at sandiegohistory org Jessop s Clock The one-of-a-kind Jessop Clock was designed and built in downtown San Diego by Joseph Jessop Sr It was first placed on the street in front of the Jessop Jewelry store in It is unlike any other clock in the world It also was one of the world s longest-lived timepieces having remained in front of Jessop s Jewelers for the next years In the Jessop Clock was warehoused in eight huge crates The Jessop family has committed to giving the clock to the San Diego History Center where it is now being stored It will be permanently displayed as the centerpiece of the San Diego History Center s re-imagining About the author John Freeman a Point Loma High School graduate was sports editor for the PLHS Pointer Press A University of Arizona graduate Freeman has held marketing and communications roles with national firms including UC San Diego Extension He spent five years as staff editor and writer with the New York Yankees and was publications director of the National Basketball Association He also spent years as a nationally syndicated media columnist and sportswriter with the San Diego Union-Tribune This article was originally published in April at sdnews com It has been updated and edited for style