Of Clocks and Cocks.

My attraction to and affection for the latter has never been in doubt. Having cock is a wonderful thing. My fascination with clocks however was considerably understated in comparison, tempered by an inability to get my hands on any (pre-internet) and the prohibitively expensive ones that were available locally. Then along came the joys (or scourge depending how you view it) of ebay and online shopping which initiated the clock buying spree these past couple of months. Which naturally prompted incredulous queries from friends questioning the state of my mind and my apparent sudden obsession for clocks with punny statements ranging from 'You going cuckoo is it?" to "Aiyah, no cocks don't need to go for clocks ma."

I've always liked clocks. You know the antique or vintage clocks with mechanical movements that actually go tik tok and not the battery powered modern quartz movements which have as much character as a missionary in a strip club. Anything with weights and/or springs that doesn't require any form of electrical or battery power is sufficient (assuming the clock looks decent of course), to enthrall me. I've been hard pressed to explain just why such clocks fascinate me so.

I guess at the most basic level, it's watching the movement tick, to see & hear the gears moving in unison while knowing that it's powered by nothing more than gravity or the energy of a wound spring. The chimes and strikes on the hour, while not essential to the attraction, is undeniably a highlight. The whirr of the chime and/or strike train followed by the actual striking of the hour/ 1/4 hour is both an aural as well as visual treat. Naturally, no two clocks (unless you get the same model) sound the same when chiming/striking; the sound ranging from factors like the size of the clock case, the material of the clock case, the number of striking levers and of course the object being struck which generally fall into three categories: bells, chime rods and coiled gongs.

And this diverse aural repertoire adds to the attraction of these vintage/antique clocks, giving an immeasurable advantage over their boring quartz battery counterparts with their flat electronic sounding chimes. It is one of the reasons why my fascination for clocks doesn't extend to watches (which I still appreciate btw), you'll never find a watch with a rich Westminster chime that only a 5 or 8 bell Seth Thomas Sonora bell chime can provide. Not to mention that as far as clocks and cocks are concerned, big is better. :p

Now I'm not saying that ALL clocks chime/strike beautifully, with fluid precision or at a subjectively 'acceptable' volume. Some like the Seth Thomas Chime 77 are more melodious than your average gong striking clock, some like the19th C Japy Freres clocks with their single brass bell more sonorous than others. Some have tinny, mellow strikes, the kind you'd be able to leave in your bedroom and not worry about. Yet others like the Waterbury 'Gibson' double alarm parlour clock with two gongs have been described as 'anything but musical' and to be 'loud enough to wake the dead'. Which I guess serves its purpose since one of its functions was as an alarm clock. All in all a potential glorious cacophony but therein its variety lies their attraction. Who wants 100 clocks which all go bong with the exact tone, pitch and volume?



I like my gadgets new and my collectibles old. It's all very well to have a nice snazzy piece of furniture or collectible which may very well become an appreciated antique/vintage yeeeeears later. But there's something about an antique clock or collectible that arrests your attention like no new fangled piece can. There's history, character and you can be damn sure that it's been around longer than you have. Now I just need to learn how to attempt to clean and oil them to minimise the predictably expensive servicing sessions.

Antique clocks are working pieces of art. Everytime they tick, every movement the gears make and every strike they take is a portrayal of history in motion and art in action. And I have no doubt they will outlast me as they have many others. Perhaps my epitaph should state : He liked his clocks old and his cocks young. lol.