Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre & City of Wetaskiwin Archives

H.R French was a self-taught watch repairman. He learned by reading and watching experienced repairmen at work. He passed his knowledge on to his son, Mac, who began helping his father while still in high school. Even as a child, Mac was fascinated with his father’s work, setting up his own bench using an apple box to pretend that he was working too. After High School, Mac entered the business with his father. This watchmaker’s bench was owned by H.R. French and sat at the back of his shop where he would repair the watches brought to him. The bench was probably already in the shop in the Compton Block on Pearce St. (50 Ave) when Mr. French arrived in 1909. The lathe and tools were his, and they date back to his earliest days in Wetaskiwin. Watch repair and service have always been a large part of business carried out at French’s Jewellery. H.R. French was also designated as CPR Watch Inspector, which he would check all CPR watches monthly for accuracy and serviced them once a year.