Ugly Clock?

[FDelGreco]

We have all seen the Howard Miller curio cabinet clock. I just saw a new contestant:



Besides the looks, it doesn't work. There is one winding hole that I can see so it may be spring wound. Is there already a thread started for "Post the Ugliest Clock You've Ever Seen?"

The owner lives in Columbus OH and wants it repaired. If anyone is in that neighborhood and wants to give it a try, PM me for details.

I now have to go rest my eyeballs.

Frank

 

[Calvin H. Huynh]

Wow. That takes things to another level. That must use the most generic movement if it even does. It could be battery with false winding holes.

 

[Mike Mall]

Suggest the owner simply put an attractive clock on one of the shelves.

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

There is an adage, of unclear attribution (some attribute it to Dorothy Parker but it has probably been around in some form much longer), that I think very much applies here:

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.

RM

 

[Schatznut]

I dunno... In a candy or pie/cupcake shop, it might just work. But it should have advertising logos all over it to break up the shock factor. Wowza!

 

[Willie X]

Yes, I started such a thread, probably 5 (?) years ago. Your entry is definitely in the running ... maybe someone can resurrect that old thread. Willie X

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

I dunno... In a candy or pie/cupcake shop, it might just work. But it should have advertising logos all over it to break up the shock factor. Wowza!

Maybe hang a wreath on it and say it's from Santa's Workshop??

RM

 

[Schatznut]

Maybe hang a wreath on it and say it's from Santa's Workshop??

RM

...or give it a decent burial.

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

...or give it a decent burial.

LOL!!

RM

 

[RAK]

I think two of these beauties flanking a wood burning fireplace would be perfect ;-) Perhaps one could have a barometer instead of a clock. Makes ya smile just thinkin' about it.

 

[FDelGreco]

I think two of these beauties flanking a wood burning fireplace would be perfect ;-) Perhaps one could have a barometer instead of a clock. Makes ya smile just thinkin' about it.

I thought they'd be there as spare firewood!

Frank

 

[Calvin H. Huynh]

Should donate it to Goodwill. I’m sure they will auction it.

 

[FDelGreco]

Should donate it to Goodwill. I’m sure they will auction it.

Maybe a blind guy will buy it. Oh wait, it doesn't strike so it's no good to him.<grin>

Actually, the owner wants it fixed because she wants to keep it.

Frank

 

[Schatznut]

Maybe a blind guy will buy it. Oh wait, it doesn't strike so it's no good to him.<grin>

Actually, the owner wants it fixed because she wants to keep it.

Frank

Good - better it remains in captivity!

 

[steamer471]

When I go to auctions I look for the ugliest thing I can find and tell the wife, "Ugly sells" and usually what I find will go for a pretty penny.

 

[Jmeechie]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Someone bought it at least once!

 

[Willie X]

Also, their money is green and spends just like any other. Willie X

 

[S_Owsley]

I've see far uglier clocks than this one. All I have to do is log on to my local Craigslist. At least the cabinet appears to be in good condition and useful for a collections of....stuffs.

 

[FDelGreco]

Here's another really ugly clock from Craigslist. It's a "George Nelson Asterisk clock, by Howard Miller No. 2213" with an asking price of $650.
Front:


Back:


Frank

 

[Schatznut]

Here's another really ugly clock from Craigslist. It's a "George Nelson Asterisk clock, by Howard Miller No. 2213" with an asking price of $650.
Front:
View attachment 689757

Back:
View attachment 689758

Frank

A friend of mine who is a supply chain guru would call this "priced to keep." It must present really well with that stub electrical cord plugged into a cube tap extension cord hanging down below it and draping across the wall to a convenient electrical outlet.

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

Here's another really ugly clock from Craigslist. It's a "George Nelson Asterisk clock, by Howard Miller No. 2213" with an asking price of $650.
Front:
View attachment 689757

Back:
View attachment 689758

Frank

Well....in fact "mid-century modern" is "hot." Especially if the design can be firmly attributed to a significant designer like Nelson. If not a repop (lots of mid-century designed items are being reissued or reproduced with much pontification by the cognoscenti as to how to distinguish the "period" from the later) and offered in the correct venue/city, it will sell infinitely quicker than say a wonderful ww pillar and splat with colorful dial and wonderful original stenciling.

Some of it can bring pretty strong prices in the process, too.

To each their own.

RM

 

[the 3rd dwarve]

That clock has that short cord because no midcentury modern kitchen would be complete without a recessed wall outlet for a clock, with integral metal hanging hook of course.

D`

 

[Jim DuBois]

Yeah, we had a mid-century modern clock when we first got married, a very long time ago. I tossed it when our interests became slightly more sophisticated (hah!) and have collected antique clocks ever since. Recently my wife wanted to reacquire a clock just like the one I tossed. She decided differently when the cheapest one she could find near identical to ours was $250. In the meantime, some of our "sophisticated" antique clocks have declined in value by about 90%.

Hmmm, buy low, sell high. Don't get confused? Looks like I got confused, more than once?

 

[Schatznut]

<begin rant>

I've often felt that "mid-century modern" is a phrase invented by contemporary (remember that term, "contemporary"?) junk sellers (sorry, "antique dealers") to pass off pedestrian post-WWII throw-away consumer items as if they are something special. For every memorable Loewy design there are a thousand forgettable ones. I am amazed that the metal "starburst" wall clocks of that era are bringing insane prices today. They were horrid then and have not improved with age.

The overused and often misused terms "antique" ("old") and "vintage" ("not quite so old") really get under my skin.

I think I'll open a shop called "Kitschworks".

<end rant>

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

<begin rant>

I've often felt that "mid-century modern" is a phrase invented by contemporary (remember that term, "contemporary"?) junk sellers (sorry, "antique dealers") to pass off pedestrian post-WWII throw-away consumer items as if they are something special. For every memorable Loewy design there are a thousand forgettable ones. I am amazed that the metal "starburst" wall clocks of that era are bringing insane prices today. They were horrid then and have not improved with age.

The overused and often misused terms "antique" ("old") and "vintage" ("not quite so old") really get under my skin.

I think I'll open a shop called "Kitschworks".

<end rant>

Kitsch sells.

Tiki anyone?

Yeah, we had a mid-century modern clock when we first got married, a very long time ago. I tossed it when our interests became slightly more sophisticated (hah!) and have collected antique clocks ever since. Recently my wife wanted to reacquire a clock just like the one I tossed. She decided differently when the cheapest one she could find near identical to ours was $250. In the meantime, some of our "sophisticated" antique clocks have declined in value by about 90%.

Hmmm, buy low, sell high. Don't get confused? Looks like I got confused, more than once?

What goes up must come down.

There have been endless trends/fads in collectables and antiques. That will undoubtedly continue to be true. People will pursue stuff and pay premium prices, get bored with it, and move on to something else. Sometimes within a category there may be some items that retain their value or continue to make advances because they are the best in that category while the rest has fallen by the wayside.

No one has a crystal ball.

I just wish I knew then what I know now!

Collect what interests you and what you like. If you enjoy it and want to live with it, sometimes for years, sometimes for decades, that's what you should buy. Antiques/collectibles don't come with a guarantee of increasing in value.

Understand that not everyone may share your enthusiasm for an object or a type of object and may even make critical or negative comments about, questioning its worth and value. I have no problem giving or receiving such.

And have fun.

RM

 

[Mike Phelan]

All these 20th century German clocks with small cheap drum movements and pin-pallet escapements are now fetching more than French clocks made before that with really nice roulant movements.

The word "vintage" gets thrown about as well for 20th C items, though originally it was used in cars made before 1930 - a clock will never become vintage anymore than it will become Victorian or stone age!

 

[Schatznut]

All these 20th century German clocks with small cheap drum movements and pin-pallet escapements are now fetching more than French clocks made before that with really nice roulant movements.

The word "vintage" gets thrown about as well for 20th C items, though originally it was used in cars made before 1930 - a clock will never become vintage anymore than it will become Victorian or stone age!

LOL! I threw that bit about "vintage" out there, Mike, to see if you'd take the bait - well done!

 

[RickNB]

Maybe not "ugly" but perhaps "stupid".... What time is it?

(Local for sale listing)

 

[Schatznut]

Maybe not "ugly" but perhaps "stupid".... What time is it?

View attachment 689835

(Local for sale listing)

Time for a different clock?

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

All these 20th century German clocks with small cheap drum movements and pin-pallet escapements are now fetching more than French clocks made before that with really nice roulant movements.

The word "vintage" gets thrown about as well for 20th C items, though originally it was used in cars made before 1930 - a clock will never become vintage anymore than it will become Victorian or stone age!

Time for a different clock?

So many so called "antique" shops now use the term "vintage" to describe a lot of stuff.

For me, the use of "vintage" in such a setting is like saying "Niagra Falls":

The Three Stooges - Slowly I Turned - YouTube

I say leave the term "vintage" for wine.

RM

 

[ToddT]

Collect what interests you and what you like. If you enjoy it and want to live with it, sometimes for years, sometimes for decades, that's what you should buy. Antiques/collectibles don't come with a guarantee of increasing in value

Amen to this. My wife and I have many antiques (some high quality, some not, some recently acquired, some we've had since we were first married) that fit well into our 1880 / 1910 farm house. Other than a few pieces that came from great- or great-great-grandparents that really should stay in the family, our kids have made it abundantly clear that they don't care about most of it.

I'm rather hoping that when we are gone some of our grandchildren may want a few pieces because it reminds them of grandpa and grandma's house.

Regardless, once we're gone it won't matter what happens to any of it. We didn't obtain it as an investment, anyway.