They Keep the Clock Tower Clock Ticking—But for How Much Longer?

In 1980, after a year's effort, Marvin Schneider, the city's official Clock Master, revived the landmark clock in 346 Broadway and he has been keeping it running every since, along with Forest Markowitz, who joined him in 1992. In May, the city sold the 1897 building to private developers, who plan to convert it to condominiums and make the clock tower, and the clock in it, part of a penthouse apartment. Since the sale, power has been cut to the clock tower and Schneider, 75, and Markowitz, 64, have been winding the clock by hand. 

Schneider and Markowitz and many others worry about the fate of the clock—how it will be maintained, how it will continue to run and ring—once it is housed in a private residence.