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Did you know that one of Tirana’s most iconic landmarks is older than London’s Big Ben? The Tirana Clock Tower, located in Skanderbeg Square, is one of the most enduring architectural and civic symbols of the Albanian capital. Constructed in the early nineteenth century during the late Ottoman period, the tower has served not only as a timekeeping structure but also as a marker of Tirana’s gradual urban and social development.

While the tower itself is associated with Haxhi Et'hem Bey, the history of its clock mechanism introduces a different narrative—one rooted in local craftsmanship and continuity. Central to this story is the figure of Ismail Tufina and the broader Tufina family tradition in horology.

The early mechanism and imported technology

Like many clock towers constructed in Ottoman-controlled urban centers, the mechanism installed in Tirana was not locally produced. The original clockwork was imported, most likely from Venice, reflecting established commercial and technical links between the Adriatic coast and inland Balkan towns.

These mechanisms required regular maintenance, calibration, and repair. In the absence of industrial-scale servicing systems, responsibility for their operation depended on skilled local watchmakers.

Ismail Tufina and the emergence of local expertise

Within this context, Ismail Tufina emerges as a significant figure. Although not the original maker of the tower. He is documented in local tradition as the primary watchmaker responsible for its mechanical construction, maintenance, and continued functionality.

His work would have involved mechanical repair of worn components, periodic recalibration to maintain accuracy, and adaptation of imported mechanisms to local conditions.

The Tufina family, renowned for their expertise in horology, took care of the clock from 1822 until 1973, when the communist regime forcefully removed them.

The Tufina family and the transmission of craft

The importance of Ismail Tufina lies not only in his individual contribution but in the continuity established by his family. He began training a large group of clockmakers consisting of his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, founding a horological dynasty rooted in that grand tower.

This dynasty extended beyond the clock tower itself — the same family also assembled the mechanism of the Clock of the Great Church of Shkodër, Elbasan, and Peqin, demonstrating a range of expertise that reached across Albanian cities.

Over time, the Tufina name became associated with watchmaking in all the Balkans, suggesting the development of a hereditary or workshop-based tradition. Their practice encompassed not only monumental public clocks but also pocket watches, wristwatches, table clocks, street clocks, and wall clocks.

This form of knowledge transmission—through apprenticeship and family lineage—was typical of pre-industrial and early modern craft systems.

Continuity across political periods

The history of the clock tower spans multiple political regimes, including the late Ottoman administration, the Albanian monarchy under King Zog I, the socialist period, and the post-1990 transition.

Throughout these transformations, the clock mechanism itself underwent replacement and modernization. However, the need for skilled maintenance persisted.

From public timekeeping to modern horology

In more recent decades, the Tufina name has continued to be associated with watchmaking, but this time from Germany under two brands, Theorema and Pionier. Some family members had to leave the country due to political persecution and mass migration. Extending beyond repair into production and design. This reflects a broader transition from communal timekeeping to individualized mechanical watches.

Bahri Tufina ran his watchmaking school from the 1950s until the early 1990s.

Conclusion

The history of the Tirana Clock Tower is often framed in architectural terms. However, the story of its clock mechanism reveals a complementary narrative centered on maintenance, adaptation, and technical skill.

Today, the Grand Clock stands as a monument of culture that symbolizes the heart of the capital city, and Ismail Tufina's contribution has not gone unrecognized. His name appears in a memorial exhibition organized by Tirana's City Hall titled "The Fathers of Tirana," a tribute to some of the most prominent figures in the city's history.

In this respect, Ismail Tufina and the Tufina family represent an essential dimension of Tirana’s historical development: the role of local artisans in sustaining complex mechanical systems over time.

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