Market Street Clock

 Samuels Clock

Purchased by Albert Samuels in 1915, (the year of the Pan Pacific Exhibition) the Samuel’s clock was originally in front of Samuels Jewelry Store at 5th & Market Streets.

In 1943 Mr. Samuels purchased the property at 856 Market and moved his company.   The clock was moved to its present location and remained in operation until August 1967, when it was placed in storage during the construction of BART.   Because of conflict with the Market Street beautification and tree-planting scheme,  the clock almost didn’t make it back, but after strongly expressed public opinion, the clock was reinstalled in October 1970.   Albert S. Samuels died July 9, 1973.   The business was sold a few years later.   The clock was granted landmark status December 1975.

Mystery writer Dashiell Hammett once worked for Samuels Jewelers writing advertising copy. Hammett used the clock in Samuels ads and referred to it in at least one of his mystery stories.

One of the finest street clocks in America