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Deloy's in Providence will fix your clocks or help you
paint ceramics
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By Shauna Leavitt
March 5, 2005 | PROVIDENCE -- The
heat starts rising when Deloy Ashliman's fills
his kiln.
Newly molded clay figures (greenware) are gently
arranged in the kiln. After eight to 12 hours
of intense heat the greenware turns into white
ceramic pieces ready to be painted.
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 FINE
WORK: Deloy Ashliman
repairs a cuckoo clock. / Photo by Shauna
Leavitt
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Customers come from all over the valley to pick and
paint the ceramics.
Deloy's Clock Repair, Ceramics & Engraving opened its
doors over 35 years ago. It is a cozy little shop built
along the north side of the Ashliman property at 221
N. 300 East. What led to the formation of the shop was
the unexpected illness of Deloy Ashliman.
"Shortly after I graduated from high school I had to
go in for brain surgery," said Ashliman. During the
rehabilitation process, Ashliman was hired by Thomas
Jewelers to help with the Christmas rush. "Thomas taught
me how to do rings," said Ashliman.
In 1970, Ashliman began working for Choate Jewelry.
Dave Choate taught Ashliman how to repair clocks. "The
first clock I ever repaired was my mother's cuckoo clock"
said Ashliman. It was a tricky process which entailed
taking the clock apart, sanding down rough spots and
figuring out how to get all the pieces to work correctly
and smoothly.
When the next broken cuckoo clock came into the shop
Choate asked Ashliman to show him how he repaired his
mother's cuckoo clock. "He watched everything I did"
said Ashliman. Eventually Choate started giving compliments
such as, "I'm afraid you know more than I do."
Ashliman's most memorable experiences were when he
has able to fix a clock no one else could.
"I would often hear Choate say to a customer whose
clock I had repaired, 'You know this clock is going
to keep on running because it was a professional that
fixed it'," said Ashliman.
Eventually Choate suggested to Ashliman that he should
opening a shop of his own. "Choate wanted me to stay,
but he felt I would succeed in a business of my own
since I knew more about repairing clocks than he did"
said Ashliman.
In 1972, Ashliman and his father opened their own
shop. It started as a clock repair and engraving shop.
Eventually, it also became a ceramic shop when Ashliman's
brother-in-law gave him a kiln.
When customers arrive to take a ceramic class, Lola
Ashliman, Deloy's mother, will lead them back to the
room where all the unpainted ceramics are kept. Each
wall has shelves from the floor to the ceiling full
of hundreds of different ceramics to choose from. Ceramic
prices range from $2 for a small figure to $80 for a
multi-piece nativity scene. The price includes the ceramic,
paints and firing if necessary. Each customer is required
to bring their own brush.
"Between the age of 8 and 14, I used to go to the ceramic
shop. It was fun to transform a white item into what
I wanted it to be. I would take it home and keep it
in my room. I loved to look at it and know I did it,"
said Kristy Hodson.
Hodson also recalls Lola Ashliman sitting down and
painting with them.
Customers for the ceramic class may come during set
class times, or they can set up an appointment outside
of regular class times by calling 752-6238. Ceramic
painting class times (drop-ins are welcome) are Tuesdays
from 7-10 p.m. and Wednesday 9-noon, 1:30-4:30 p.m.,
and 7-10 p.m.
PRANCING: Lola Ashliman
holds a carousel horse ready to be painted. / Photo
by Shauna Leavitt
NW
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