Are your ebay auction prices going up ?

[frank rabbets]

I collect old clocks, radios, loudspeakers and "classic" garage equipment amongst other weird stuff. Recently some prices have gone up 5 times or more. Have people got more money or are they beginning to appreciate this old stuff ?

 

[joinerman]

Agh another horologist Frank, I'm into old wall clocks, dial clocks drop dials, ogee's & longcases, i also restore casework.

 

[Towpack]

I put it down to these TV programmes like Flog It, Cash in the Attic etc. People watch these and think they can make a few quid buying old stuff and maybe selling it on.

 

[frank rabbets]

I'm more into movements than cases although I have made 2 longcase cases but then gave up. The cases were for regulator clocks. I made the movements, copying a Victorian one I have then decided to make 3 more movements and pendulums with what I think are improvements. Each movement took about 600 hours. My "best" clock keeps time to +/- 1.5 secs a month.

I'm no good at joinery/cabinet making. Restoring I'm not too bad at but can't even start to master French polishing. I've read books, looked at utube etc but just don't get it.

 

[joinerman]

I do my own movements as well Frank 30 hour & 8 day longcase, Fusee's from dials, polishings a piece of pi55, just don't be scared of it.

 

[frank rabbets]

Phil I don't know if you know the trick for lacquering brass but they must be dipped in acid for a few seconds first to etch the brass. Then washed in warm water and dried off with a clean cloth to avoid water stains. I used to lacquer brass without the acid treatment and the shellac pealed off like sellotape. Amazing what a few seconds in acid does. On top of my polyurethane finished table!