Diane Amato / SanFrancisco
What do you collect?
Mid-Century wall clocks.
How long have you been collecting them?
I got my first clock in 1989.
Why do you collect these particular pieces?
I have an attraction to mid century pieces in general. My first clock was a turquoise and white George Nelson "Chronopak" starburst. It was sitting in the common hallway of a friends live/work space for about 2 weeks. I finally said "Well, if no one is going to claim this, I will."
How much do you usually pay for a piece?
That one was free but I've never spent more than $20. for one.
How many do you have?
I own about 25 of them.
How do you display them?
I had them all on my dining room wall for about 15 years. Adding to them periodically. I recently moved them to a larger wall space in my studio. I never set or wind them and I never get tired of looking at them.
Do you have a favorite?
My all time favorite is my George Nelson "Steering Wheel". That one is still in my home. To me, that is the "Holy Grail".
Tell us a short story of how you found one.
At the end of a long Sunday, I was driving up Sloat Blvd when I noticed a garage sale closing up. I pulled over to take a quick look around. There wasn't much as most of the items had been already packed up. Inside an open box I saw a black curve of what I thought was wrought iron. I lifted it out of the box to discover a weird steering wheel clock. It was heavier than I thought. I asked the guy how much. He said $3. and I took it home. That clock is now worth about $800. So glad I stopped.
