With time, everything changes. Almost everything. If one were to compare the Mount Road of 1849 with that of today, the picture would vary vastly. But if one were to take a closer look, they would notice a building common to both pictures, that of the timekeepers of the city — P Orr and Sons.
Back in the 19th century, two brothers from Scotland moved to Madras to trade. One was Peter Orr, a watch and chronometer maker, and the other was Alexander, a lawyer. They entered into partnership with Gordon and Co of Broadway and later, when Gordon retired, the partnership was dissolved. Peter carried on the business under his name. And, in 1849, P Orr and Sons was born at the new location, 6-8, Mount Road.
Today, the store specialises in watches and clocks apart from eye wear and pens. But back in the days of the Raj, it sold a wide range of products including gramophones, jewellery, silver, plate, and arms and ammunition for game hunters. They also imported clocks and surveying instruments, and sold cups and trophies for various racing clubs. And oh! The watches. One look at the vintage collection currently on display and you will know that here is a shop where there’s something for both the commoner and royalty. A shop where one could find leather strap wrist watches as well as diamond-encrusted, gold-plated Rolexes.
With the passage of time, the shop too has undergone a metamorphosis. But it has retained its quaint charm. Today, the store is a unique blend of old-world interiors stocking new-world brands such as Guess, Diesel and Esprit among others. P Prabhakaran, Store Manager, has been with the store for the last 18 years. He says, “I think of P Orr and Sons as a University. And now, with the relaunch change is on its way.”
The store, which is famed for its servicing section, even has employees who have worked with it for more than three decades. S Maran has been working with the shop for 33 years now. He had started off as an apprentice. “I remember how in the 1980s a gentleman had come from Italy with a chronograph that needed repair. He challenged us for a sum of Rs 10,000. We took up his challenge and succeeded. He was surprised, and even more so when we refused the money,” he smiles. Murugesan, the oldest living employee, has been with P Orr for over 64 years.
So next time you are walking down Mount Road, drop by at P Orr and Sons. If not for the watches, then at least for its rich legacy and the many tales it has to tell.
OF ANOTHER TIME
It was a two-week voyage for John Davies to reach India from the UK in 1946; and he landed in Bombay during monsoon season. From there it took another 36 hours in a train to arrive in Madras. The young man was engaged on a three-year contract to P Orr & Sons, a job leading to a 12-year career with the store.
In 1948, P Orr acquired the agency for South India for Rolex. “The story goes that the P Orr in Rangoon invented the oyster movement for Rolexes,” shares John. “I remember we initially sold smart, thin watches, but in this climate these were susceptible to sweat leaking into the clockwork!” he adds, chuckling.
As for the best work of P Orr, John unequivocally singles out the swami work silver, whose heyday predates John’s entrance into the business, although he and his wife Pamela still cherish a few of the highly collectible pieces. Regarding the modern P Orr, John says, “I’m sorry to see the skilled workmen disbanded, but I understand why they had to go.” As for his favourite experience with P Orr-“Meeting my wife!” he says happily. The two met when Pamela needed a pin for RAF wings, a gift from a friend. The rest, as they say, is history.