Are you finished collecting?

[Isaac]

Hi all,

Was curious if anyone here has a collection that satisfies the "clock-bug". Are you still on the lookout to grow your collection (or even sell clocks to make room for other ones), or are you happy with what you currently have?

For myself, I'm extremely happy with the chiming clock collection I have - it's well rounded and I can appreciate the quality and uniqueness of the clocks in my collection. I might look into buying a 5 bell Sonora (since I dearly miss the sound of those bells) but that'd be the end to it.

What about yourself?

 

[S_Owsley]

I would love to thin my collection and add a small number of new ones. Like a really pretty banjo, a fine Vienna, small things like a crystal regulator and who ever has enough ship's bell clocks? A Sonora Chime? A Bulle ATO electromagnetic?

 

[Calvin H. Huynh]

Hi all,

Was curious if anyone here has a collection that satisfies the "clock-bug". Are you still on the lookout to grow your collection (or even sell clocks to make room for other ones), or are you happy with what you currently have?

For myself, I'm extremely happy with the chiming clock collection I have - it's well rounded and I can appreciate the quality and uniqueness of the clocks in my collection. I might look into buying a 5 bell Sonora (since I dearly miss the sound of those bells) but that'd be the end to it.

What about yourself?

For me, I also think my collection is pretty polished and quite curated at this point (not). This past year, I have focused on more exclusive clocks such as some chiming wall clocks, chiming mantle clocks, and some high end clocks. I have definitely satisfied a goal to collect some unique chime clocks this year, and I think I just topped it off with an Urgos Himno. Now I have 2 Himno G clocks! Way more than I expected. I still would really love an FFR 4 airs, Frere Jacques, Jura clocks, Girod clocks, Manufrance clocks, and a good old Sonora chimer like yours. Still, the Gilbert Bellwood is on my long term bucket list. I would love to thin out my collection to be curated better.

 

[J. A. Olson]

It's always a cycle of selling lesser clocks to make room for what's more interesting or accessible. Don't think there will ever be
a definite ending point, even as the number of new additions gradually dwindles. A lot of clocks were solely bought for studies
which means clearing those out in favor of clocks I really want to keep as long as I can.

 

[Les harland]

I think most people stop collecting until they see a timepiece that " they have to have"

 

[RAK]

Picked up three this year with one more on the way... and have identified four that I can let go if some folks on ebay help me out by buying them. It is going to be hard to say goodbye to three of them as they are pretty nice but so be it. The fourth is a project clock that has some issues I would never be able to solve. Will lose money on each of the four but it's a hobby not an investment porfolio.

So I guess the answer is "nope", not done yet.

Bob

 

[novicetimekeeper]

Bought quite a few during Covid, there are a few on my wish list still, mainly a passing strike dial clock.

 

[mldenison]

My wife says I am...

 

[Dave T]

I am for today!

 

[jacks61fd]

Retired, new wife, new house but I still look everyday at a few sites if something really comes along i will buy it. It would have to be shelf clock now .Large wall clocks are just to expensive now even at some of the bargin prices. I still have one large wall clock Waterbury #7 with decorated glass Its in the garage.

Jack

 

[jacks61fd]

Retired, new wife, new house. I still look at a few sites everyday and if something came along I would buy it. It woild have to be a shelf clock now. Large wall clocks have become to expensive even at todays bargin priced. I still have one large clock (WATERBURY #7 pin wheel) with decorated glass. It sits in the garage.

 

[wow]

I built my new shop way too small. I get in trouble with my wife often when I hang clocks on her end of the shop. I have so many I have several stacked under tables. Something’s got to give! I thought I was through buying and I found a guy who wanted to sell his whole collection. Well… I have about a dozen more now. Hope to sell many at a show in October. Hope Covid doesn’t cancel the show.

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

No.

Rate of acquisition has slowed considerably as I have become more picky.

RM

 

[DeanT]

When I'm dead I will. Although I have started to refine my collection by selling/giving away my bottom end clocks which don't fit my current collection tastes. This is harder now as I've got rid of the obvious ones and I'm left with many I like but I've become far more selective on the purchases which also helps.

 

[Calvin H. Huynh]

Guess it comes down to “Financially Reasonable Collecting” since no way Jose do we want to decide over clocks we like and want to get rid of…

 

[DeanT]

Guess it comes down to “Financially Reasonable Collecting” since no way Jose do we want to decide over clocks we like and want to get rid of…

I've got some close multiplies of some clocks or others where I have a better example (quarter striking on 8 bells vs hour striking etc) or older versions of similar clocks so it does makes sense to get rid of them to get more space and allow great diversity. Whether I get around to actually doing that is debatable.

For example these are extremely similar although the first one is a much better example.

 

[novicetimekeeper]

If you are giving clocks away I can give you a wish list Dean

 

[RAK]

I've got some close multiplies of some clocks or others where I have a better example (quarter striking on 8 bells vs hour striking etc) or older versions of similar clocks so it does makes sense to get rid of them to get more space and allow great diversity. Whether I get around to actually doing that is debatable.

For example these are extremely similar although the first one is a much better example.

View attachment 666394 View attachment 666393

Dean,

I now suffer from the same problem. I just bought two pretty nice examples of Seth Thomas advertising clocks at an auction in June. I previewed the auction in person and got to look closely at both and I was clearly convinced that the clocks in the auction were better examples of these clocks than the ones I had in my collection. My simple plan was to buy the clocks at the auction and sell off the two currently in my collection. No problem right?

So when I returned home with them, I compared the first pair of similar clocks and after a minute or two determined that the new example was nicer. Decision made -- sell the one I planned to sell. Then I compared the second pair of similar clocks. Problem is as it turns out neither is a better example. Both have strengths and weaknesses...and I like them both! Dang... I'm usually pretty good at being able to let a clock go if better one shows up, but when it's a tie I can't decide except to keep them both until something changes my mind. So, I guess I'm not done collecting yet. Bob

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

Dean,

I now suffer from the same problem. I just bought two pretty nice examples of Seth Thomas advertising clocks at an auction in June. I previewed the auction in person and got to look closely at both and I was clearly convinced that the clocks in the auction were better examples of these clocks than the ones I had in my collection. My simple plan was to buy the clocks at the auction and sell off the two currently in my collection. No problem right?

So when I returned home with them, I compared the first pair of similar clocks and after a minute or two determined that the new example was nicer. Decision made -- sell the one I planned to sell. Then I compared the second pair of similar clocks. Problem is as it turns out neither is a better example. Both have strengths and weaknesses...and I like them both! Dang... I'm usually pretty good at being able to let a clock go if better one shows up, but when it's a tie I can't decide except to keep them both until something changes my mind. So, I guess I'm not done collecting yet. Bob

Nice problem to have?

I have actually bought duplicates of some scarce clocks over the years. In the instances I'm recalling, both examples were pretty darn decent, but neither perfect.

What helped was to live with both for a while. In all instances, paid less for the duplicate as it was purchased when the market was slumping or it fell through the cracks @ an auction or on eBay. Having had time to ponder and live with both and consider which might provide a better profit margin, sold one without too much ado.

RM

 

[Richard.W]

When I was younger, I bought clocks because something on the face related to my work or other hobbies. Or the cabinet matched furniture I already owned. Those are the clocks I'm now passing to family members. Now my buying is totally focused on weight-driven wall clocks. These take more room and so there will be fewer of them. And I'm being far more selective.

 

[Teckelhut]

Just when I think Im done collecting another "steal" comes across my path. Latest one being this for $5 off Craigslist. Runs just fine. It was passed down to the brother to the daughter and she had no interest in it. 1925 New Haven Abby Cathedral.

 

[Bill K]

I see patterns here, makes me feel better about my own clock "enthusiasm." I too started out with more common types because they were interesting yet available and affordable. As time went on and others shared their knowledge with me I became more selective and concentrated on certain pre-1865 wood cased "shelf" or "mantle" clocks. Recently I have found that I do not need to actively hunt for specific additions to the "family." Like stay dogs and cats, they seem to find me by various convoluted paths. I long ago ran out of display space but bless my patient wife who just sighs and smiles. She has to, she has her own collecting issues (postmortem pictures, art and memorabilia). Least clocks (even the triple deckers) are easier to manage than American Empire furniture and antique tractors which also seem to find their way here somehow. I have another theory that helps explain this "collection expansion" syndrome. Collections begin modestly and slowly grow until, at some unspecified point, they reach critical mass. They then produce their own gravitational type pull and suck in other related elements that are always floating around out there. The proof is: "Is there any avid collector, clock or otherwise, who does not have items, large or small, for which there is no memory, or explanation, as to how they got there?" I thought not. Its a deep and puzzling mystery of the cosmos which merits scientific investigation.
The unfortunate ones most affected by all this are our poor children who have to sort out all our conglomerations some day, have pity on them!

 

[Les harland]

There is no known cure for our "afliction"
I do not think anyone here wants to be cured

 

[Schatznut]

I haven't started collecting yet. I'm still accumulating. Someday I'll start collecting.

 

[Teckelhut]

I have this medium sized sticker on the back of my car for all to see. I think it pretty well sums me up.

 

[Les harland]

I think that sums up a lot of people here

 

[wspohn]

I prefer to think of my hobby as refining a collection rather than enlarging it and I have no problem thinning the easting herd to add more interesting clocks..

Unfortunately I made the mistake of mentioning that to my wife who has transformed that statement in her own mind into 'buy a clock, sell a clock" as an absolute rule. Of course she has seen me 'collecting' in terms of sports cars, watches, fountain pens, vinyl records (and playback systems) etc.

 

[novicetimekeeper]

As I bought two more this week it definitely seems a no from me.

 

[Dick C]

Eliminating them one by one.

 

[bruce linde]

i was, until i impulse purchased something this afternoon.

 

[JimmyOz]

I am 66 and have about a 100 clocks in boxes that are in need of repair, I have done about 15 in the last year so by the time I am 73 I should have them all done, however am I finished collecting, NO, just can't help myself when I see a good clock that needs fixed.

 

[Schatznut]

I am 66 and have about a 100 clocks in boxes that are in need of repair, I have done about 15 in the last year so by the time I am 73 I should have them all done, however am I finished collecting, NO, just can't help myself when I see a good clock that needs fixed.

I've got quite a backlog also. I'm a sucker for orphans and strays.

 

[Ralph]

I reluctantly let two go today. The money was fair and it was time, but I’m not done yet… I have one in my crosshairs and am known to be weak, when I see one that gets my juices going.

Ralph

 

[Chris Radano]

No I am not finished collecting. But I am a different collector than I was 40 years ago, 30 years ago, 15 years ago. There are as many reasons why I collect as there are clocks in my collection (I started collecting clocks about 18-19 years ago). Did you know, collecting is a sign of intelligence? (But also foolishness.)

 

[Richard.W]

Well, I was about done until Todd Porter pulled up in my driveway with a car full of clocks.

 

[wow]

Why quit? I’m retired. I worked all my life, raised three kids, sacrificed for my family, and saved for retirement. It’s my turn to do what I want. Besides, it’s an investment!

That’s what I tell myself, my kids, and my wife every time I buy another clock, clock part, or tool. Works for me.

 

[Schatznut]

Why quit? I’m retired. I worked all my life, raised three kids, sacrificed for my family, and saved for retirement. It’s my turn to do what I want. Besides, it’s an investment!

That’s what I tell myself, my kids, and my wife every time I buy another clock, clock part, or tool. Works for me.

As long as it works for them too, Will, you're golden!