
DATE: Thursday, August 28, 1997             TAG: 9708270221

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 23   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   85 lines

HICKORY, DICKERY DOCK: SHOW'S ABOUT CLOCKSTHERE'S AMPLE TIME TO CHECK OUT THE EXHIBIT OF VINTAGE TIMEPIECES AT RIDDICK'S FOLLY.

``Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock, as it stands against the wall - .''

``Night and Day'' by Cole Porter.T HERE IS a room full of stately clocks standing against a wall at Riddick's Folly, plus a case of watches to watch, so take some time for ``Moments in Time,'' an exhibit continuing through Oct. 5.

There is not a Rolex in sight. Rolex. Hah! Color them inexpensive.

If you are really bent on putting out cash for a timepiece look for a Willard.

``They could sell for more than $50,000,'' said Richard Robinson, the Newport News clock and watch collector/repairer/restorer/salesman who provided the items on exhibit. ``I'm on the low end of the totem pole.''

The most he ever paid was, he said cagily, in the thousands.

``I buy at clock shows, from antique stores, and independent dealers, and at auction,'' he said. ``My father was an auctioneer, so I've been around clocks.''

Robinson said he began his earnest interest in ``what-time-is-it?'' about 10 years ago, ``when I took a couple old clocks out of my grandmother's attic in Franklin, N.Y.''

He fixed and became fixated - repairing those clocks, then getting into collecting timepieces, big time.

Robinson spends his time during the week teaching auto body repair at P.D. Pruden Vo-Tech Center. The clocks are weekend things.

``We do about 20 shows a year on the East Coast,'' he said, noting that the ``we'' refers to his partners - wife, Lori, plus Bridget, 11 and Cody, 8.

The family is surrounded by about 100 clocks at home. Only three offer the correct time, but most of them alternate cuckooing, chiming, ringing.

Robinson loves the sounds, often passing time listening to time. ``I like standing, listening to the clocks fight each other.''

At Riddick's recently, he was standing in the center of the room, his tie-with-clocks-on-it demanding almost as much attention as his timepieces.

Robinson looked around. It was 12:55 - 1:05 - 5:15 - 6:40. AM or PM? Who knows? Just don't set your watch there.

One of his clocks would challenge you, even if it was working - a German novelty dog clock. The circa 1950 tricky mutt almost challenges you to tell what time it is showing.

Robinson is showing the oldest clock in his collection, manufactured between 1760 and 1771 in France, by A. Jannot. And, he is displaying his most expensive purchase, an English tall case clock, circa 1850.

His favorite is an Ansonia Swinger, manufactured about 1900, a Huntress Clock with a carving of a woman carrying a deceased bird.

In the general clock category, Robinson enjoys his weighted clocks for a good, practical reason.

``Clocks with weights - I can always tell when I need to wind `em up. Also, they're extremely well made pieces.''

What is well made these days?

``Howard Miller makes real good clocks - fantastic cases with excellent movement,'' said Robinson, who wears a Bulova Acutron.

The watches he has on display at Riddick's Folly include a piece with a repair tag dated Feb. 4, 1854, an English Fusee, handmade by J.A. White of Liverpool.

Some of the pieces are on sale. Robinson will be on hand from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 14 to discuss clocks and answer any questions you might have about time. Visitors can bring in their timepieces. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER

Richard Robinson, whose clock and watch collection is on display at

Riddick's Folly, will discuss clocks and answer questions on Sept.

14.

This porcelain clock is among the vintage timepieces from the 18th,

19th and 20th centuries, on display through Oct. 5, at Riddick's

Folly, 510 N. Main St. The items are from the collection of Richard

Robinson of Newport News.

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ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

WHAT: ``Moments in Time,'' a clock and watch exhibit by Richard

Robinson.

WHEN: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday,