The orderly interior of Roanoke Park Watch Repair is decorated with mechanical diagrams, a glass case of antique pocket watches, and a wicker rocking chair that a pocket watch-wearer would look completely at home on. The shop looks like it belongs to someone with the kind deep appreciation of machines that results in garages full of obscure bikes or classic cars in various states of dismemberment. When CHS stopped by to interview owner Bill Wiesenbach he was bent over a work table, examining a watch through some kind of futuristic looking light-up monocle. We talked about his new watch repair shop and his history in the business. 

What attracted you to this line of work? Well, I’d always been interested in mechanical things, and my mother and grandpa were into watches. When I was 17 I started doing auto body work—that only lasted a few months—I got tired of every color of the rainbow coming out when I blew my nose. I was servicing x-ray equipment for a while, but I decided I didn’t want to do that forever.  There’s a watch making program at North Seattle Community College that happens to be one of the best in the world. I enrolled in that, and here I am, 26 years later. I was actually on their technical advisory board for a few years.

Previously you ran a Northwest Watch Repair in a Bellevue Fred Meyer. How did that experience differ from running a shop that’s independent of larger retail entities? I love Fred Meyer, but I have to work by their rules. Kroger owns Fred Meyer, and some times their emphasis seems to be on share holder value rather than what’s best for the customer. I don’t like that. I prefer having my own business and having the flexibility to treat every customer as an individual, not just a dollar sign. 

What’s your favorite kind of watch to work on? It’s going to sound cliché, but probably Rolex. They’re well-engineered and have a good catalogue of parts to work with. They’re meant to be worked on. Some watches are just meant to be replaced when they break.

What’s one of the most unusual watches someone has brought you? Good question. We get a lot. There was a Gubilen with an enamel dial. It had a feature where it could be instantly set to any time zone.

Seems like I’ve seen lots of big gold and silver grandpa-style watches lately. Have you recently had a lot of those in for repairs? Those have always been around. People are given those watches by their fathers and grandfathers. It means a lot to be given a watch by someone you know. As long as those continue to exist we’ll have good business. It’s true that they’ve gotten huge lately—if you buy a new one they’re so big it’s totally impractical. 

Has anyone asked you to repair something ridiculous like an Ipod or one of those gummy watches? All the time. We get Ipods and glasses a lot.

Glasses? Yeah, we do what we can. Someone asked me to replace a kitchen thermometer.

Wow. Do people ever wander in drunk from Roanoke Park Place Tavern and ask you to build them time machines? (Laughs) Not yet, but I’m not saying that won’t happen. I think we close before they’re hitting it really hard. If that happens I’ll find Jeff (the owner) and ask him to come get his patrons.