Tips: Buying Antique Clocks

Thinking of buying an antique clock from eBay or other online source? Some sellers will go above and beyond to describe the clock as accurately as possible. If purchasing from a dealer online, or from an online auction, there may be detailed photos showing the clock movement and the case at different angles, original sales receipts, documentation of authenticity as well as clearly written policies about shipping costs, guarantees, etc.

In some cases and on the other flip of the coin, you'll find sellers who provide only minimum information about the clock. This is usually due to the the seller genuinely not knowing much about the clock or even clocks in general. Since there are scams out there and crooked people looking to take advantage of others, it might also be due to the seller's desire not to reveal information which might cause the buyer to ask for a reduction in price or pass on the deal altogether.

Here are some questions you can ask to help identify if your buy is a good deal or not:

- How old is the clock and do you know the exact year it was made?

- Is this clock model (if stated) pictured in any book or catalog?

- Is the signature on the clock (if any) the maker's name? Is the maker listed in any clock books?

- If there are any labels, are they original?

- Is the movement original to the case? Is the dial original?

- Do you know of anything that is not original or that has been replaced?

- Is anything missing? (decorative elements, trim, mechanical parts, etc.)

- What is the clock case material? (May be solid wood, wood veneer, plastic, Bakelite, marble, Adamantine, bronze, brass, silver, silverplate, copper, iron, pot metal with other finish, etc.)

- (In the case of bronze, brass, silver or other metal decorative elements): What metal is this? Is it solid (bronze, brass, etc.) or is it plated? How can you tell?

- Do you know the history of this clock? (Who owned it, how the seller came to possess it, etc.)

- Do you have any written documentation pertaining to its history? (Particularly important if stated to have been owned by a well known historical, political or entertainment figure.)