Antique and Vintage Clocks

In Part I, I wrote why I collect, repair and restore clocks. In this, Part II are 9 reasons why clock collecting and repair is a great hobby for just about anyone.

9 Reasons why clock collecting and repair is a great hobby

1. Meet people. This hobby enables me to come into contact with other interesting people when I purchase clocks, have clocks repaired or ask for advice.

   

2. Builds self-esteem. Developing and maintaining a clock hobby is vital because small successes are enough to sustain oneself while other pressures in life are building and it is the one solid thing to feel good about. It gives renewed energy to tackle other challenges in life.
3. Avoid boredom. Boredom is responsible for a lot of society’s ills and destructive behaviours. How many people come home after a challenging work day to decompress for hours in front of a TV when they could be doing something constructive and rewarding?
4. Point of connection with other people. Interact with a small, select portion of the population, the people who collect and repair antique and vintage clocks, the people who share a passion. They are from every corner of the world.

   

5. Clock collecting enriches your perspective. There is an old adage: “The more you know, the more you grow”. Any opportunity to learn something new, to be challenged anew, is great for character-building by seeing the world through refreshed eyes. Clock collecting and repair will differentiate yourself from others and provides key examples where you have tackled a difficult situation and emerged on the other side
6. It keeps you youthful. Establishing and maintaining a hobby is a very healthy habit to form for later years. Hobbies are excellent for brain health especially if you are looking for something to stave off cognitive decline. The older you get the more trouble you will have struggling to fill your time with meaningful activities. Starting a hobby early in life pays dividends in the long run, much like an interest bearing investment.

   

7. Clock collecting combines with other interests. Photography and traveling are two key interests in my life. Blog writing is another. This hobby allows me to combine all of those interests and as a side benefit my wife, who is also my travel partner and clock spotter, encourages me in my hobby.
8. A hobby makes you interesting. At a party or any social gathering, you can only talk about your occupation or your grandchild for so long before people’s eyes begin to glaze. But mention that you have a clock that fell off a wall during the Halifax Explosion, a clock that hung in a railway station near where you live, a rare clock bought for almost nothing and ears perk up.

   

9. A way to relieve stress. A hobby provides stress relief simply because it is an oasis in your life. You can immerse yourself in a totally different world when you are focused on getting that darned strike side to work correctly on a troublesome old clock movement.

Not a clock person? Substitute your interest or hobby for the word “clock”.

I hope this post piqued your interest and if you have any questions let me know by replying below or email me at ronjoiner@gmail.com.