What is an antique?

On many a Saturday me and the fam will lark out to take in some estate sales and yard sales. We got wind of an early one and this last Saturday we head out over the Grade to an estate sale in Corral de Tierra. The house it tucked away in a nice neighborhood. 

The place is packed. Shoppers climbing all over the place.

I start looking for clocks. I find some.

First there’s this guy.

A Gilbert mantel. I’m guessing early 20th century. Also guessing that’s a pretty good price.

It’s in immaculate condition. That's faux marble. Paper laminate on wood. Still the face is so clean.

Then there’s this guy.

Handsome. I’m guessing 30’s. No obvious maker. I don’t know about the price.

Then there’s this, literally lying on the floor:

Smallish. The wood is lovely. It does look old but’s really clean. Seems almost untouched.

And what an interesting label on the back.

Who’s this Simon Whittner guy? What does this have to do with the Pony Express? Is the clock really from 1900? If so why is it actually printed on the card and not written out? 

So many questions. No maker’s marks outside. So inexpensively priced. Is it a knockoff?

We meander around. I see a couple other clocks but nothing of interest.

I decide to leave things as they lay and do some research to decide if I want to come back and try to get a bargain.

Well…

A quick look on eBay turns up…

This one is probably a couple years older but pretty much that’s the Gilbert. 

I don’t find anything similar to the mission oak clock.

But I did find this:

And that clock has the same label on the back

Maybe Simon Wittner is a name in clock making? 

$348? Do I need to run back to the sale?

Oh and then I find this:

Remarkably similar. 

Uh what’s going on?

Let’s go to the authority…

The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors is a true gem for us horologists. Their message board goes back about 15 years and clock nerds far beyond my capabilities post and share enormous amounts of history and info every day. It’s a treasure trove.

I do a search on Pony Express Regulator and find this.

Ah.

Seems back in 1978 Simon was importing containers full of legitimately old Japanese copies of American clocks. Many of the clocks were in fact circa 1900. Most were made by Seikosha (yep Seiko). 

That link above to the post on NAWCC is really worth a read top to bottom.

Ole Sy never said they were American clocks. Clever boy.

The sleuths on the NAWCC board said that he was selling these like hotcakes. By the thousands. Some board members were incensed at this charlatan! Other's noted that he didn't really lie and pointed out that those early Seikosha clocks were actually very well made. Sy did so well that after about a year supply couldn’t keep up with demand and he started to cut corners and source clocks from Korea. Those apparently were not as well made.

The NAWCC crew actually dug up and article about Si and his operation.

Here's another:

And an advertisement for Pony Express from back in the day.

That clock in the ad… the family had one at the estate sale. Thought it was ugly.

A former employee from Pony Express showed up on the message board and posted a story about working for Sy on the NAWCC. Said Sy was buying them for $25 each, cleaning them up, sticking a label on and selling them for $150.

That message board… a treasure.

My curiosity is piqued. 

I head back the next day. The estate people do not want to budge. 

That Gilbert is worth every penny they're asking. Probably a lot more. Just don't really love it.

The Oak clock is beautiful. Just not that old nor what I want to spend.

Both are probably finer pieces than a Japanese knock off (if it is Japanese) but...

I had to know and I was beginning to love this story.

I fork over $40 for the Regulator. Pass on the other clocks. 

Next up: What did I buy?