LOTS OF TICK TOCK IN ORLANDO

By Fred Taylor

A silver plated French Art Deco clock, circa 1925, was a good buy at $850.

As seen in The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, April 2005,  

The ticking of valuable timepieces increases audibly in Florida in February. Part of the increase is due to the peak of the winter tourist season but most of it comes from the Florida Mid-Winter Convention of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and from the annual antique clock and watch auction conducted by Palmetto based Mark of Time. Owner Mark Peer regularly schedules his annual affair in Orlando to coincide with both of the other events.

This year the sale was conducted in Embassy Suites in downtown Orlando on February 16 and was available online on eBay Live Auctions. Approximately 19 percent of the 339 lots were won by online bidders competing against the bidders in the audience of over 300 in the room. The fast paced furious sale was called by veteran Florida auctioneer Jerry Byfield.

A pinwheel regulator, a model #3 variation from New Haven Clock Co., circa 1885, was the top bid grabber of the session, won with a call of $8,000 plus 10 percent buyer's premium by an out of state dealer in the room. The 89in tall wall clock showed only minor wear on both the movement and the heavily carved walnut Renaissance Revival case. The runner up was a French Blue Lyre Rhinestone Mystery Clock, circa 1880, with a wining bid of $6,600 plus premium.

Watches were a bit soft overall. A Rolex 18 Jewel two tone oyster perpetual bubble back chronometer sold for $1,500 and a large 14K hunt case quarter hour repeater, in perfect working order, made $1,000, well below it s $1,800-$2,400 estimate.

But many items in other categories soared well above estimates. A large English wall clock, circa 1840, with original brass pinwheel movement reached $2,200 outpacing the $600-$900 estimate and a circa 1900 German Lenzkirch gilt and porcelain mantle clock set doubled its low estimate by selling for $1,800. A rosewood Seth Thomas 8 Day regulator No. 3 wall clock with an unreadably dark label soared to $3,500. 

Traditional American pillar and scroll clocks, a signature form of the first half of the 19th century, made a solid showing. A Seth Thomas version with the almost never seen off center pendulum, circa 1820, retained its good original painted dial and original wooden movement with bell strike. It stuck a new deal for $3,100. Another Seth Thomas clock, circa 1825, with mahogany pillar and scroll case and restored reverse painted tablet sold for $1,500 as did a Sperry & Shaw 30 hour clock, circa 1830, with good replaced painted dial. One marked "E. Terry & Sons" in good condition with minor wear, circa 1840, also with a wooden movement, will sit on a new shelf for $1,700.

This was the fourth annual winter antique clock and watch sale conducted by Mark of Time and Peer said, "They get better every year even though it is an emotional roller coaster."

For more information visit the website at http://www.markoftime.com or call (941) 721-1801.