>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: OH, THE TICK, TICK, TICK OF TIME.

THE RELENTLESS MARCH OF FATHER TIME.

AND ACCORDING TO MY OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA'S GOLD WRIST-WATCH, IT'S NOW EXACTLY 10:13 A.M., WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME--PARDON THE PUN--TO GO INSIDE THIS BUILDING RIGHT OVER HERE.

OK, WE'RE INSIDE AND HOOKING UP WITH-- >> RON WOODS, HUELL HOWSER.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> MARSHALL KNOWLETON.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW, WE'VE ALREADY SAID, IT'S EXACTLY 10:13 ACCORDING TO MY CALIFORNIA'S GOLD WATCH, WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME FOR US TO ATTEND THE-- >> NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHAPTER 75133, LOS ANGELES REGIONAL WATCH ANTIQUE WATCH AND CLOCK SHOW.

Huell: BOY, THAT'S A BIG SHOW YOU GOT GOING ON.

BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: NOW IS THIS A BIG DEAL?

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S PROBABLY THE THIRD BIGGEST SHOW IN THE COUNTRY.

Huell: WHO'S GONNA BE HERE TODAY?

WHO'S HERE?

WHAT ARE WE GONNA SEE?

>> WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, DEALERS, SELLERS, PUBLIC THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ONE OR 2 ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE A FAMILY HEIRLOOM THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

Huell: IS THERE BUYING AND SELLING GOING ON HERE?

>> YES SIR, THERE IS, AND IT'S $10.00 TODAY.

Huell: OH, OK. WELL, WAIT, BUT WE HADN'T PAID TO GET IN.

IS THAT OK?

>> WE'VE COVERED YOU.

Huell: OH, OK. HA HA HA.

THEIR LOOKING AT--WHAT KIND OF WATCHES YOU GOT OVER HERE?

>> YOU NAME IT, SIR, WE HAVE IT.

FROM TRIPLE DATE MOON PHASE CHRONOGRAPHS, SPLIT SECOND REPEATERS, MINUTE REPEATERS-- Huell: I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE USING WORDS I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

>> YES, SIR.

Huell: BUT LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.

WHERE DID YOU GET ALL THIS?

>> THIS COMES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, SIR.

WE'RE COLLECTORS.

Huell: PEOPLE JUST COME OVER HERE?

LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

AND JUST KIND OF--IS IT OK TO JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH IT LIKE THIS?

>> PLEASE, SIR.

THIS IS LIKE WHAT WE CALL A LITTLE TREASURE HUNT.

YOU FIND SOMETHING HERE YOU CAN RESTORE FROM CIRCA 1920s, 30s, AND 40s.

AND THESE WATCH MAKERS COME IN AND THEY START RESTORING ALL THESE WATCHES.

AND THEY ACTUALLY PUT THEM BACK ON THE MARKET.

Huell: WOW.

SO, THESE NEED TO BE RESTORED.

THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESTORED.

>> BEEN RESTORED, YES SIR.

HUELL: BUT I WOULD IMAGINE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO COME AND RISE TO THE CHALLENGE TO-- >> TO TRY TO RESTORE THEM, SIR.

Huell: TO TRY TO RESTORE THEM.

>> YES.

PARTS LIKE THE OLD OMEGA CONSTELLATIONS-- Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

NOW THIS IS A-- >> AN OMEGA CONSTELLATION, QUARTZ MOVEMENT Huell: OMEGA CONSTELLATION.

>> CIRCA, 1970s, 1980s.

Huell: AND HOW MUCH COULD I BUY THAT ONE FOR?

>> SELLS FOR ABOUT $10.00.

BUT THE PARTS ALONE YOU COULDN'T FIND FOR THESE.

SO, THIS IS WORTH MORE TO A WATCHMAKER THAN IT IS TO THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL.

Huell: A LADY AND HER CLOCKS.

>> HA HA, HI THERE.

Huell: YOU'RE THE CLOCK LADY.

>> I'M THE CLOCK LADY, YES.

Huell: NOW, GET ME EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THESE CLOCKS.

'CAUSE THIS IS--YOU GOTTA LOT OF BEAUTIFUL CLOCKS HERE.

>> THIS IS THE ALARM CLOCK CHAPTER.

AND WHAT WE DO IS WE SET UP A DISPLAY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR--JOIN THE ALARM CLOCK CHAPTER.

Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE.

THERE'S A SUB-CHAPTER JUST DEALING WITH ALARM CLOCKS?

>> THERE IS, YES.

AND THESE ARE AFFORDABLE, AND WE LIKE TO SHOW THE DIVERSITY OF THEM.

Huell: LOOK AT THESE OLD ALARM CLOCKS.

OH, THESE ARE GREAT.

>> YES.

SO, WE-- Huell: DO YOU GET EXCITED BECAUSE OF THE SOUND THEY MAKE?

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE INTO?

>> THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ONES.

THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE.

AND THEY'RE STILL AFFORDABLE.

YOU CAN FIND THESE AT GARAGE SALES AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS TO FIND THESE CUTE CLOCKS.

Huell: CLOCKS, CLOCKS, CLOCKS, CLOCKS.

WATCHES.

>> HI.

Huell: YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE READY TO GO OUT ON THE SIDEWALK AND OPEN THESE THINGS UP AND SELL THEM.

>> I'M ALWAYS READY TO SELL.

Huell: WELL, SELL ME A WATCH OVER HERE.

GET ME EXCITED ABOUT THESE WATCHES.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

WELL, HE'S THE WATCH GUY.

Huell: WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

>> WELL, I JUST TAKE THE MONEY.

Huell: OH.

HA HA HA.

NOSTALGIA.

THESE REMIND ME OF MY GRANDFATHER'S POCKET WATCHES.

>> WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE, YOUR GRANDFATHER-- WELL, MAYBE NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S POCKET WATCHES, BUT SOMEBODY'S.

Huell: WOW, THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY--LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

THESE ARE--NOW THESE, TO ME, LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN WELL CARED FOR.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF HISTORY.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF CHARACTER TO THEM.

>> YES.

THESE ARE ALL GOLD AND PLATINUM POCKET WATCHES, AS OPPOSED TO THIS CASE HERE.

THESE ARE ALL RAILROAD WATCHES.

Huell: OH.

SO, THESE ARE RAILROAD, AND THESE ARE POCKET.

DOES ANYBODY USE THESE THINGS TODAY OR DO THEY JUST COLLECT THEM?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE USED QUITE A BIT.

LAWYERS LIKE THEM A LOT.

Huell: WHY?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN DOWN AT YOUR TABLE IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR WATCH.

Huell: OH, IT SHOWS YOU'RE BORED.

>> THE JUDGE IS UNHAPPY.

YOU CAN SNEAK A PEAK UNDER THE TABLE AND LOOK AT YOUR POCKET WATCH AND NOBODY KNOWS.

Huell: THIS GUY'S GOT ON A JEWELER'S, WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS THING?

>> THEY CALL THAT A VISOR.

Huell: A VISOR.

NOW, WHY DO YOU NEED THAT TO SELL THESE?

>> WELL, I HAVE PEOPLE COME UP, AND THEY ASK ME, CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS WATCH?

TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

I KIND OF LOOK CLOSELY AT IT BEFORE I BUY IT OR I SELL IT.

I CAN MARK ANY KIND OF THE BAD PARTS OF OF THE WATCH, GOOD PARTS OF THE WATCH.

Huell: ARE YOU A JEWELER?

>> YES, I AM.

>> WOW.

THESE ARE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE TO ME JUST KIND OF RUN TOGETHER.

PULL ONE OUT AND GET ME EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, LETS SEE.

MY MOST INTERESTING WATCH WOULD PROBABLY BE THIS ONE.

Huell: CAN I HOLD IT?

>> YEAH, IT'S A 14-KARAT GOLD ILLINOIS--COURSE THERE'S NO "S" IN ILLINOIS.

Huell: SO, IT WAS MISSPELLED?

>> NO, IT'S GOT AN "S" IN IT BUT YOU DON'T SAY IT.

Huell: OH.

AND WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S A 14-KARAT GOLD CASE, VERY NICE.

IT'S UN-ENGRAVED.

THAT MEANS IT'S ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD.

AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN PERSONALIZED IN IT'S LIFE.

Huell: SO, CAN I CLOSE IT UP?

>> YES, YOU CAN.

Huell: BOY.

I'M AFRAID TO BREAK IT.

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT.

>> YOU ALWAYS PUSH THIS DOWN, SO YOU DO DON'T WEAR OUT THE LID OF THE WATCH.

Huell: BOY, LOOK AT THIS.

LET'S CLOSE IT UP AGAIN.

LOOK AT THIS WATCH.

OH, BOY.

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: GET ME EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

I'M NEW TO THIS THING.

>> THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.

Huell: THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.

>> JUST LOOK.

>> I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER, EITHER.

Huell: WELL, SHOW ME.

GET ME EXCITED.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU A ONE-OF-A-KIND WATCH.

>> YOU SHOULD BUY THIS FOR YOUR WIFE.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> THAT'S A ONE-OF-A-KIND ZENITH.

Huell: A ONE-OF-A-KIND ZENITH.

NOW, WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT IT?

>> OPEN THAT THING UP.

WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE MADE IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

Huell: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

>> BECAUSE THE GUY THAT KNEW THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED IN THE ZENITH MANUFACTURING COMPANY TOLD THEM THAT.

NOW, EITHER THEY LIED OR HE DID.

Huell: SO, THESE-- [LAUGHTER] THESE THINGS ARE AUTHENTICATED?

AND, THAT'S PART OF BUYING A--BEING A COLLECTOR IS TO HAVE THE AUTHENTICATION ON IT.

>> YOU GOT IT.

RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CHEAP, JUNKY KNOCK-OFFS, THAT YOU CAN BUY A PRESIDENT ROLEX FOR $10,000.00 BRING IT TO YOUR JEWELER, AND HE'S GONNA TELL YOU IT WAS MADE IN CHINA.

Huell: YEAH.

>> [LAUGHTER] AND THEN YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

Huell: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT MY CALIFORNIA'S GOLD WATCH?

>> $18 BUCKS.

Huell: OHH.

All: [LAUGHTER] Huell: LET'S WALK OVER HERE AND SEE WHAT--WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT OVER HERE?

>> OH, I'M JUST BROWSING.

JUST BROWSING, LOOKING AROUND, SEE WHAT BARGAINS THERE ARE.

Huell: WELL, NOW, WHEN YOU BROWSE, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY TOUCH?

>> OH, YEAH.

NORMALLY, ANYTHING OUT YOU CAN TOUCH.

Huell: BUT I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING IS IT, TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TOUCHING THE MERCHANDISE?

SOME OF THIS IS PRETTY VALUABLE STUFF.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT I MEAN, AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING.

Huell: SO, WATCH COLLECTORS KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE MERCHANDISE.

>> THEY DO.

THEY DO.

Huell: WITH LOVING CARE.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ALWAYS WITH LOVING, BUT HOPEFULLY WITH CARE.

Both: [LAUGHTER] >> Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: THEY'RE SMILING, THEY'RE HAPPY.

OH, BOY, LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?

>> WELL, THAT'S A MADONNA CLOCK.

DIDN'T-- Huell: A WHAT?

>> A MADONNA CLOCK.

DIDN'T YOU EVER SEE THE VIDEO?

THAT'S THE BRASSIERE THAT SHE WORE IN-- NO, NO.

IT'S AN EARLY ART-DECO FROM AROUND 1910 FROM FRANCE.

Huell: OH.

>> ONE OF MY OLDER CUSTOMERS, AFTER SHE'D WATCHED A VIDEO WITH HER GREAT-GRANDSON, SAID THAT THIS WAS MADONNA'S CLOCK.

SO, IN MY SHOP IT'S BECOME KNOWN AS MADONNA'S CLOCK.

Huell: THIS IS MADONNA'S CLOCK WITH THE BRASSIERE >> WITH THE BRASSIERE.

Huell: ANYTHING TO SELL THE MERCHANDISE, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: NOW, THESE DON'T LOOK OLD TO ME.

>> THEY'RE ABOUT 125 YEARS OLD.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING?

>> NO.

CASES WERE MADE IN GERMANY.

THEY'RE ROYAL BONN.

AND THEY WERE MARKETED BY THE ANSONIA CLOCK COMPANY IN NEW YORK AROUND 1900.

Huell: NOW, LOOK.

CAN I TOUCH THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: BECAUSE THESE WOULD BE VERY FRAGILE.

IT'S A WONDER THEY HAVEN'T BROKEN OVER THE YEARS.

>> IT IS A WONDER THAT THEY'VE LASTED THAT LONG.

BUT THE THING IS, MY SPECIALTY IS CLEANING THEM UP AND PRESENTING THEM LIKE THEY WERE FACTORY.

RIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY.

IT'S WHAT I DO.

Huell: WHAT ABOUT A STATUE OF LIBERTY CLOCK?

NOW, THIS IS $95 BUCKS.

COME HERE AND HELP ME.

HELP ME WITH THIS.

GET ME EXCITED.

>> THAT'S A BARGAIN, THERE AT $95.00.

Huell: UH-HUH.

WHY IS THAT?

THERE'RE NOT MANY OF THESE AROUND?

>> THERE'S NOT MANY OF THEM AROUND, BECAUSE THAT'S A REPRODUCTION.

Huell: OH.

THAT'S NOT THE REAL THING.

>> WELL, THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 3 OF THE REAL THINGS.

Huell: AND WHAT ABOUT THIS.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?

LOOK AT THIS THING.

>> THIS IS HERCULES SWINGER CLOCK.

Huell: BE CAREFUL, DON'T BREAK IT.

>> AND, UH-- Huell: YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: NOW, THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF CLOCKS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING HERE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 50 YEARS.

AND I'M A PRETTY GOOD GENERALIST.

AND THE ASSOCIATION THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY--THIS LOOKS LIKE A COMMERCIAL VENTURE, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL VENTURE.

THIS IS A FRIENDSHIP VENTURE.

Huell: THIS IS YOUR PASSION.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT'S THE PRECISE WORD FOR THIS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.

Huell: GET ME PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS THING.

'CAUSE I LIKE THIS.

>> THAT IS FRENCH.

THAT'S ABOUT 1880.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY CALLED THE FRENCH INDUSTRIAL SERIES.

IT'S A NOVELTY CLOCK.

IT'S A WINDMILL AND IT'S ACTUALLY AUTOMATED.

THERE ARE 2 MOVEMENTS IN THIS CLOCK.

THERE'S A MOVEMENT RIGHT HERE FOR THE TIME AND THERE'S A MOVEMENT IN THE BASE THAT WINDS RIGHT HERE THAT KEEPS THE WINDMILL RUNNING.

Huell: SEE, IT'S EASY, LIKE LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE, TO SEE WHY PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT CLOCKS.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

SOME OF THEM ARE EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL.

LIKE THIS FRENCH CIRCLES [INDISTINCT] HERE, WHO HAS HORIZONTAL RINGS THAT'S READ OFF OF THE SERPENT'S TONGUE.

AND THIS IS AN AESTHETIC PIECE.

Huell: AND LOOK AT THIS OVER HERE.

>> YES, THAT'S A GERMAN PIECE FROM MID-CENTURY--FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, RIGHT AT 1900.

THAT'S AN ENGLISH SKELETON CLOCK.

AND THAT'S WANTED BY SMITH AND SONS IN LONDON, ABOUT 1865.

THIS HAS, NOT ONLY AN ATTRACTIVE CLOCK BUT IT HAS A SPECIAL-ORDER DIAL AND A SPECIAL MATCH STRIKE MECHANISM IN IT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW, IT WAS EASY TO GET ME EXCITED ABOUT THESE 4.

I THINK YOU GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU ON THIS ONE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE A CLOCK THAT ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE.

BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THAT DIAL.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A DIAL LIKE THAT?

Huell: YEAH.

>> NOW, THAT DIAL IS A VERY SPECIAL DIAL.

AFTER THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC, THEY REALIZED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL RADIO FREQUENCY AND A SILENT PERIOD TO RECEIVE S.O.S.

MESSAGES.

SO, THEY DESIGNED THIS DIAL HERE AT 15 AFTER FOR 3 MINUTES.

>> LOOK AT THIS, A SILENT PERIOD.

>> YEAH, IT'S A SILENT PERIOD.

THAT MEANS THERE'RE NO RADIO SIGNAL GOING OUT.

Huell: SO, THIS WAS A CLOCK FOR SHIPS.

>> THIS IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

NORMALLY, THIS CLOCK YOU WOULD FIND IN A WESTERN UNION PLACE.

WESTERN UNION--AND THEY SYNCHRONIZED THESE CLOCKS AND THEY PUT 2 BIG DRY CELLS IN THEM AND THEY HAD A PENDULUM.

YOU CAN'T PUT A PENDULUM ON THE OCEAN.

SO, THEY PUT A BALANCE WHEEL ESCAPEMENT IN IT.

THEY PUT THIS IN A RADIO ROOM AND THEY PUT THIS DIAL--THIS IS A SPECIFIC CLOCK FOR A RADIO ROOM.

Huell: SEE, IT'S ALL ABOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, THAT HELPS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE HERE TO LEARN.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE DISPLAYS.

IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL VENTURE.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE ROOM AND YOU SAY, "YEAH, IT'S A COMMERCIAL VENTURE."

BUT IT'S A LEARNING VENTURE.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO LEARN.

THEY SEE THESE THINGS THEY WANT TO KNOW AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE TO SHARE THIS.

Huell: NOW, WE'RE IN FOR A TREAT.

WE HAVE COME ACROSS THE WAY FROM THE BIG CONVENTION THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE TO A ROOM THAT IS FILLED WITH SOME VERY SPECIAL CLOCKS.

CLOCKS BELONGING TO MR. ROY IRICK.

MR. IRICK TELL US ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL COLLECTION HERE.

BECAUSE JUST LOOKING AT THEM, I CAN TELL THEY'RE SPECIAL.

>> WELL, ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO, I STARTED COLLECTING CARRIAGE CLOCKS.

Huell: CARRIAGE CLOCKS.

NOW, WHAT IS A CARRIAGE CLOCK?

>> BACK IN THE EARLY 1800s, IT IS TOLD THAT NAPOLEON HAD SOME OFFICERS THAT DIDN'T ARRIVE AT A BATTLE ON TIME.

AND HE INSISTED THAT THEY ALL HAVE CLOCKS.

SO, THE CLOCK INDUSTRY PRODUCED WHAT THEY CALLED A PENDULE DE VOYAGE OR PENDULE D'OFFICIER.

MY FRENCH IS VERY POOR.

BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS CALLED AN OFFICER'S CLOCK.

THESE HAVE RESULTED FROM NAPOLEON'S DEMAND THAT HIS OFFICERS HAVE A CLOCK.

Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE.

THE FRENCH OFFICERS WOULD ACTUALLY PICK UP A CLOCK AND BE CARRYING IT AROUND.

WHY WOULDN'T THEY--WELL I GUESS THEY DIDN'T HAVE WRIST WATCHES BACK THEN.

>> NO WRIST WATCHES AND VERY FEW POCKET WATCHES.

Huell: THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION YOU HAVE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US.

AND NOW, IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE ON.

YOU GOT A CLOCK--YOU GOT A CLOCK IN YOUR BACKPACK.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING HERE?

I'M SHOPPING.

Huell: SO YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY HARD CORE CLOCK.

>> OH, YEAH.

I'VE BEEN AT 37 YEARS.

Huell: IS THIS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD?

>> OH, YEAH.

YOU GET BIT BY THE BUG, AND YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM IT.

Huell: ARE YOU WEARING A WATCH?

>> OH, YEAH.

I WEAR WATCHES.

I WEAR ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

Huell: WELL, YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE WATCH.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE 4 OR 5 OF THEM.

>> NO, THE PROBLEM WITH THE ONE ON MY BACK IS I HAVE TO ASK OTHER PEOPLE WHAT TIME IT IS.

Both: [LAUGHTER] Huell: I FOUND SOMETHING I CAN AFFORD.

$3.00 FOR THIS.

>> SUCH A DEAL.

AND ONLY SLIGHT REPAIR REQUIRED.

Huell: NOW, WHAT?

WHERE DID YOU GET?

LOOK AT THIS.

WHERE DID GET ALL THIS STUFF?

>> THIS IS A COLLECTION OVER 60 YEARS.

Huell: SO, THESE ARE JUST PARTS OF CLOCKS.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

AND THEY'RE FOR PARTS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE FIXING CLOCKS NEED A WHEEL, LIKE THIS, AND THEY GOT IT.

$3.00.

Huell: THEY PROBABLY DON'T MAKE ANYTHING LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

>> NOT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

Huell: SO, THESE OLD PARTS OF CLOCKS ARE LIKE FINDING OLD PARTS OF CARS THEY DON'T MAKE ANYMORE.

>> YES, YES.

Huell: A CLOCK WITH MATCHING CANDELABRAS.

>> VERY POPULAR IN THE TIME PERIOD THAT THIS WAS BUILT.

YES SIR.

Huell: SO, YOU'RE SELLING THIS AS A PACKAGE DEAL.

>> PACKAGE DEAL.

>> YOU GET THE CLOCK AND YOU GET 2 BEAUTIFUL MATCHING CANDELABRAS.

>> YES SIR.

AND THEY RUN.

THIS CLOCK RUNS.

IT HAS A NICE STRIKING BELL.

AND IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL MANTELPIECE.

Huell: NOW, YOU SAY THAT THEY USED TO SELL A LOT OF CANDELABRAS WITH CLOCKS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IN THE VICTORIAN ERA.

Huell: SO THIS WOULD HAVE GONE ON YOUR MANTLE?

>> YES SIR.

BEAUTIFUL PIECE.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF OFFERS ON IT.

BUT NO ONE'S BIT SO FAR.

Huell: WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHARGE ME.

GIVE ME A GOOD PBS DEAL HERE.

>> WELL, 1,100.

Huell: 1,100?

>> YES, SIR.

Huell: WHAT ABOUT JUST THE CLOCK?

>> I COULDN'T DO THAT.

Huell: YOU GOT TO KEEP THE WHOLE THING.

>> WHOLE SET.

I COULD THROW IN SOME CANDLES FOR YOU, THOUGH.

Huell: BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS TABLE, THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST INTERESTING THING I'VE SEEN ALL DAY.

TELL US THE NAME OF THIS BIRD.

>> THIS IS AN ACTUAL CUCKOO BIRD FROM THE BLACK FOREST OF WEST GERMANY.

Huell: SO, THE CUCKOO CLOCK WAS NAMED AFTER AN ACTUAL CUCKOO BIRD.

>> ABSOLUTELY, HUELL.

Huell: DID IT MAKE "COO-COO, COO-COO, COO-COO?"

>> JUST LIKE THAT.

Huell: THAT IS--LOOK AT THIS-- A CUCKOO BIRD.

>> IT'S A MARVELOUS BIRD.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE LIKE IT, AT ALL, ON DISPLAY AT ANY OF THESE SHOWS.

BEAUTIFUL BIRD.

Huell: YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO FOCUS HERE.

BUT HERE'S A GUY WAVING AT US OVER HERE.

A MICKEY WALL CLEANER CLOCK.

>> RIGHT.

Huell: THIS IS JUST A MICKEY MOUSE CLOCK.

>> NO, BUT IT HAS 3 PURPOSES.

PEOPLE THAT COLLECT SKELETON CLOCKS, PEOPLE THAT COLLECT DISNEY PRODUCTS, AND PEOPLE THAT COLLECT ANIMATED.

Huell: WOW.

LOOK HOW THAT MOVES.

>> AND IT SAYS THE HOUR.

Huell: WOW.

>> WHEN THE HOUR GOES UP, IT TELLS THE TIME.

IT SAYS, "5 O'CLOCK."

Huell: NOW, THIS IS A NEW CLOCK.

>> IT'S A NEW CLOCK.

BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

I SELL THEM OFF ALL THE TIME.

Huell: REALLY.

>> ONE DAY IN ANAHEIM, I SOLD 74 IN ANAHEIM.

RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO DISNEYLAND, I SOLD 74 OF THESE.

IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> COME ON OVER.

Huell: OK.

HE'S GETTING US OVER HERE TO LOOK AT YOUR DISPLAY.

YOU TRYING TO SELL ME A WATCH TODAY?

>> WELL, I'M GONNA TRY.

AND IF THE EFFORT IS NOT A GREAT EFFORT BECAUSE WE WHOLESALE ALL THESE VINTAGE WATCHES HERE TODAY.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN INVITED TO A VERY CLOSED MEMBERSHIP.

Huell: BUT DON'T YOU GET ATTACHED TO YOUR WATCHES?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S A HOBBY GONE PUBLIC FOR ME SOME 30 YEARS AGO.

SIMILAR TO MANY OF THE DEALERS IN THE ROOM HERE.

Huell: UH-HUH.

SO, IT STARTED AS A HOBBY AND GREW INTO KIND OF A PROFESSION.

>> HOBBY GONE PUBLIC, YES.

REALLY IS.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE AMERICAN POCKET WATCHES HERE ON DISPLAY.

Huell: YEAH, YOU GOT THE POCKET WATCHES.

>> AND THEN WE HAVE VINTAGE WRIST WATCHES, WHICH ARE A WONDERFUL INVESTMENT.

THROUGHOUT THE ROOM HERE, YOU WILL SEE MANY OF THESE WATCHES WHICH ARE STILL HOLDING VALUE.

IN FACT, COMPETING VERY EFFECTIVELY WITH BRAND NEW WRIST WATCHES IN THE JEWELRY STORES.

Huell: SO, THE OLD ONES WERE MADE TO LAST?

>> MOST WERE.

SOME ARE VERY VALUABLE, AND THEY HAVE BECOME AN INVESTMENT IN TIME.

Huell: BECAUSE SEE, I THINK MY WATCH WAS MADE TO LAST ABOUT-- >> YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THAT WATCH.

THAT'S NOT A VINTAGE WATCH.

WHAT ARE YOU--I'M SORRY, I DON'T REALLY MEAN-- Huell: [LAUGHTER] YOU GOT EVERYTHING HERE FROM THESE BEAUTIFUL WATCHES DOWN HERE TO A GUY GOING THROUGH--WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?

>> UH-UH-UH, YEAH, HE SAID IT.

Huell: JUNK.

COME HERE AND LOOK AT IT.

LOOK AT THIS.

HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN HERE?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU NEED AND IF YOU COME ACROSS IT, YOU JUST HOLD ON TO IT.

Huell: HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING HERE THAT YOU WANT?

Huell: YES.

Huell: LIKE WHAT HAVE YOU PULLED OUT OF HERE?

THIS LITTLE PIECE RIGHT HERE?

Huell: YEAH, I NEED THAT.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> I'VE GOT THAT WATCH AT HOME, BUT I DON'T HAVE A FACE FOR IT.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND THAT IS THE FACE FOR IT.

Huell: AND YOU FOUND THIS INSIDE THIS BOX?

>> YEP.

Huell: WESTERN ELECTRICS, CHAPTER 133.

SO, NOW, WE'RE IN ANOTHER SUBSET.

YOU DON'T WIND UP YOUR CLOCKS, YOU PLUG THEM IN.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE POINT, YOU SEE.

I COLLECTED QUITE A FEW OF THE WIND-UP AND I'M KIND OF LAZY AND I GOT TIRED OF ALL THAT WINDING EVERY WEEKEND.

Huell: BUT THE ELECTRIC CLOCKS ARE NOT AS OLD AS THE WIND-UP CLOCKS.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY THEY STARTED MAKING THEM ABOUT 1840, WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED INVENTING BATTERIES.

AND KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT MADE THEM A PRACTICAL FOR HOMES, WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRY CELLS FOR EARLIER AUTOMOBILES IN 1890s.

AND SO, THAT WAS BUILT--THAT BATTERY'S FROM 1905.

Huell: SO, THIS BATTERY THAT WAS BUILT TO RUN AN AUTOMOBILE WOULD HAVE BEEN USED-- >> FOR CLOCKS AND DOORBELLS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, BEFORE HOMES HAD ELECTRICITY AND CARS HAD GENERATORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Huell: NOW, ARE ELECTRIC CLOCKS AS POPULAR AS THE WIND-UP CLOCKS?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE A COLLECTOR, YOU CAN'T COLLECT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW.

YOU'VE GOTTA DECIDE WHAT--YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY EVERYTHING YOU SEE.

Huell: YOU'VE SETTLED ON ELECTRIC?

>> SO, I DECIDED, WELL, MY POCKETBOOK ISN'T BIG ENOUGH.

SO, I'VE GOT TO COLLECT SOMETHING THAT REALLY WORKS FOR ME.

Huell: "TIFFANY ELECTRIC CLOCKS, PURELY ELECTRIC--NO SPRINGS, NO WEIGHTS, NO CLEANING, NO OILING, AND THE MOST ACCURATE TIMEKEEPERS.

FROM TIFFANY ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK."

NOW, I'M STANDING HERE WITH SCOTT VAN ZANDT.

AND SCOTT, I GOT TO TELL YOU SO FAR TODAY, YOU HOLD THE RECORD FOR HAVING THE MOST CLUTTERED CLOCK TABLE THAT I HAVE SEEN.

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING HERE.

>> WELL, WE TRY TO SATISFY EVERYBODY'S NEEDS.

Huell: SO, YOU DON'T FIT INTO ANY CATEGORY, DO YOU?

YOU'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE.

GOT STUFF BACK IN THE BACK.

>> OH.

LOOK.

WE'VE GOT TABLES IN THE BACK AND YOU'VE GOT--IS THIS JUST PART OF YOUR INVENTORY OR HAVE YOU BROUGHT EVERYTHING OUT TODAY?

>> NO.

I STILL HAVE BOXES BACK HERE THAT I HAVEN'T' OPENED.

Huell: [LAUGHTER] >> THERE'S NO ROOM.

Huell: SO, IS THIS THE WAY YOUR HOUSE LOOKS?

>> NO, NO, NO.

IT'S BETTER THAN THAT.

MY WIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE ALLOWED FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW HOW WIVES ARE.

Huell: WE GOT A NAUTICAL THEME GOING HERE.

>> YES SIR.

NOW, THESE ARE CHELSEA SHIPS BELLS.

Huell: SHIPS CLOCKS.

>> SHIPS CLOCKS.

Huell: OK.

SO, THIS ONE LOOKS OLD RIGHT HERE.

>> YES.

THIS WOULD BE U.S. NAVY, I THINK, PROBABLY WORLD WAR I, THIS TYPE HERE WOULD BE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

THESE ARE ALL-- >> THIS IS SOLID BRASS.

Huell: BOY, THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

>> IF THEY HAVE ONE WINDING KEY ON THEM, THEY'RE JUST TIME, AND THE ONES WITH 2 KEY WINDS ON THEM, WILL RING SHIPS BELLS.

AND SHIPS BELLS RING AT 8:00, 12:00 AND 4:00 RING 8 BELLS, AND THEN LIKE, AT 8:30 IS ONE BELL, 9:00 IS 2 UNTIL IT GETS BACK UP TO THE 8 BELLS.

Huell: SO, THIS GETS NAVY VETS EXCITED.

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS NAVY.

YES.

MOST OF THESE WITH THE HELMS WHEELS ON THEM, WOULD HAVE BEEN RETIREMENT GIFTS OR NEVER USED IN THE NAVY.

THE REST OF THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN USED IN THE NAVY.

Huell: BOY, THESE--LOOK, IT SAYS, "U.S. NAVY" RIGHT HERE.

>> YEAH.

Huell: THIS IS THE REAL THING.

>> YES SIR.

I BOUGHT THESE, 84 OF THEM FROM THE COOMFIELD COLLECTION OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY YEARS AGO.

Huell: SO, THESE COLLECTIONS SHIFT AND MOVE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> THEY'VE BEEN IN MY POSSESSION NOW FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS.

AND I'M NOW STARTING TO DISPERSE THE COLLECTION.

SO, I'M STARTING TO SELL THEM.

Huell: WHAT ARE THESE?

>> THESE ARE OLD JEWELERS' WATCHMAKERS CABINETS.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> THESE ARE THE OLD CRYSTALS, THE ACTUAL OLD STOCK.

Huell: SO, THIS IS WHERE THE JEWELERS WOULD KEEP ALL OF THEIR--LET'S PULL THIS OPEN.

OH, BOY, WHEN YOU OPEN THIS THING UP, YOU'RE GOING BACK IN TIME.

>> YES, YOU ARE.

Huell: SO, WHEN YOU BUY THESE, YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE DRAWERS.

>> YOU GET THE CABINET, YOU GET WHAT'S INSIDE.

LET'S SEE WHAT'S OVER HERE.

Huell: THIS IS LIKE A TREASURE HUNT.

LET'S PULL THIS ONE OPEN.

OH, LOOK.

>> AND EACH HAVE A NUMBER THAT'S IN AN OLD BOOK THAT IDENTIFIES WHAT WATCH THEY GO ONTO.

AND SO, YOU MATCH THE NUMBER.

Huell: AMAZING.

I LOVE THIS.

HE PULLED THE STRING AND LOOK.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THIS IS A AUSTRIAN CLOCK MADE ABOUT 1820, AND IT'S CALLED OTTOMAN TIME.

AND IT REPEATS THE QUARTERS AND HOURS.

AND IT'S GOT A CENTER CALENDAR HAND, TOO.

Huell: WOW.

SO, THIS WAS A CLOCK, A CALENDAR, AND CAN I PULL THE STRING?

>> GO AHEAD.

Huell: YOU PULL THE STRING AND LOOK.

>> THEY MAKE POCKET WATCHES, ALSO, LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE CALLED OTTOMAN TIMES.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, FELLAS?

>> HOW YOU DOING?

Huell: AS IF I NEEDED TO ASK.

>> HA HA HA.

RIGHT.

TIME.

HA HA.

Huell: TIME.

>> THERE YOU GO.

Huell: YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON I'VE HEARD WHO'S SAID SOMETHING ABOUT TIME.

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF HERE.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

Huell: YEAH.

'CAUSE--ARE CLOCK PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF TIME THAN REGULAR PEOPLE?

>> THEY HAVE TO BE.

PRECISION.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: IS THAT THE WAY YOU LEAD YOUR LIFE?

>> THIS IS THE MAN RIGHT HERE THAT KNOWS ALL ABOUT THESE THINGS AND ABOUT TIME.

Huell: DO YOU LEAD YOUR LIFE TO THE SECOND?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS, ALL THE TIME?

>> I NEVER KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS.

All: [LAUGHTER] >> IF YOU GOT THIS MANY CLOCKS AND WATCHES YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH ONE'S RIGHT.

Huell: ARE YOU BUYING, ARE YOU SELLING, ARE YOU LOOKING?

>> I'M DOING A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

I'M A BUYER AND A SELLER.

Huell: YOU'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> YES, I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE.

Huell: WE'RE ALL HAPPY TO BE HERE, RIGHT?

THUMBS UP.

BOY, I TELL YOU, WE'VE HAVE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY HERE IN PASADENA AT THE WATCH CONVENTION.

IT HAS SOME LONG OFFICIAL NAME, BUT THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME TO COME TO LOOK AT WATCHES AND CLOCKS AND THE PEOPLE WHO COLLECT THEM, WHO BUY THEM AND SELL THEM.

WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY HERE.

AND LOOKING AT MY CHEAP WATCH, I SEE IT'S NOW, EXACTLY 12:00, WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME FOR US TO SAY GOOD-BYE.

I HOPE YOU'VE HAD AS MUCH AS WE HAVE AT THE CLOCK CONVENTION.

LOOK AT THESE CLOCKS.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]