What’s Your Level of Interest, Career, Background, Etc.

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  • December 22, 2014 at 1:43 pm #49369
    maitai11
    Participant

      Hi Everyone,

      I’ve often wondered about this, and was surprised to hear that some of you do it as a hobby only…WOW! I was wondering, if you’d be so gracious to share the following: (I’ll go first, then you can plug in your info if you would like)

      Current Involvement: Hobby, working toward a business, possibly after retirement in 5 years.
      Current Job: Federal Firefighter (Lieutenant), Honolulu
      Have you been formally apprenticed? No
      If yes, what was the name of your Master Watch/Clockmaker? N/A
      How many years have you been involved in horology: Less than one
      Do you have a commercial business, with a public shop? No
      Where to you work from: Home
      Do you resell and service watches, or just a hobby: Hobby for now, until proficient enough

      OK Guys, your turn. I believe this will help us understand each other a little better. I hope there is maximum participation!

      Best,

      Tim :)

      December 22, 2014 at 1:49 pm #61075
      fillipj
      Participant

        Since I’m probably the newest member, I’ll jump in:

        Current Involvement: Hobby. Would love to do this full time later on down the road.
        Current Job: IT Specialist for the DoD.
        Have you been formally apprenticed? No
        If yes, what was the name of your Master Watch/Clockmaker? N/A
        How many years have you been involved in horology: A few months now, but have been fascinated for years and am finally at a point where I can apply some practical application.
        Do you have a commercial business, with a public shop? No
        Where to you work from: Home
        Do you resell and service watches, or just a hobby: Haven’t fixed one yet, but I’m working on it.

        December 22, 2014 at 3:50 pm #61077
        bernie weishapl
        Participant

          I started as a hobby which after 8 yrs turned into a business. I have never advertised 1 penny since I started it has all been word of mouth. I service a area of 100 mile radius of my home. I also have several Jewelry stores that act as drop off points for customers to leave their clocks till I can get there. Win-Win for both.

          Current Involvement: Hobby turned full time business
          Current Job: Retired from as a Electronic Tech for the Federal Aviation Admin (30 yrs)
          Have you been formally apprenticed? Yes for 7 yrs.
          If yes, what was the name of your Master Watch/Clockmaker? Paul
          How many years have you been involved in horology: Since 1981 (33 yrs)
          Do you have a commercial business, with a public shop? Yes
          Where to you work from: Seperate shop at my house (24 X 40 shop)
          Do you resell and service watches, or just a hobby: I service watches and clocks. I buy and sell some also that I get at garage sales or auctions.

          December 22, 2014 at 4:25 pm #61076
          stevefitzwater
          Participant

            I first found Bob’s course in 2010, I took every bit of it in, an decided to start working on watches, so I started gathering information on Waltham Pocket Watches, rebuilt a few and gave them away as presents to family members, heck I even designed a personal logo for the shop I was going to open one day. Then life got more complicated and until earlier this year, I started to look for things to keep me busy during the day, I dove back into two areas that I always enjoyed, web design and this, then goal is to learn as much as I can and acquiring enough tools so that if I choose, I can do this fulltime and terminate my SSD benefits..

            Current Involvement: Hobby for now, not sure yet where it will lead.
            Current Job: Disabled after 32 yrs working at 3M
            Have you been formally apprenticed? No
            If yes, what was the name of your Master Watch/Clockmaker? N/A
            How many years have you been involved in horology: off and on over the last four years
            Do you have a commercial business, with a public shop? No
            Where to you work from: Home
            Do you resell and service watches, or just a hobby: Watches and Clocks, but for family and friends, I like to purchase them off eBay, then fix them up and present them to a family member as a gift.

            December 23, 2014 at 4:48 pm #61078
            khoward279
            Participant

              Hi everyone,
              I guess I’ve been interested for years but just in the last 2 years have got serious about clocks. After ordering bob’s course it really motivated me to get started getting my shop and tools in order but working a full time job gets in the way. Ok here goes:

              Current involvement: Hobby to full time some day.
              Current job: 33 yrs. as a Toolmaker
              Have you ever been formally apprenticed: no only in current trade
              How many years involved in horology: 2
              Do you have a commercial business with a shop: No
              Where do you work from: A spare room/rooms at my sons house.
              Do you resell and service watches, or just a hobby: Hobby for now. I have a lot to learn first. I’ve been through one apprenticeship and found out early on you don’t know everything.
              Hope this helps Merry Christmas everyone.

              December 24, 2014 at 9:03 pm #61079
              randy
              Participant

                Current Involvement: Hobby,/business working toward a full-time business, after retirement in 2 years, 3 months,..but who’s counting ;)
                Current Job: Supply Chain manager for the Boeing Co. 36+ years ( read the 787 battery guy- yikes )
                Have you been formally apprenticed? Not much. My father was a graduate of the Bulova school, but passed before I could get much training from him. Still use what was left over of his tools.
                If yes, what was the name of your Master Watchmaker. Dad, tons of text from various schools. Forums/ you guys…and especially Bob.
                How many years have you been involved in horology: 7 seriously..a long time casually.
                Do you have a commercial business, with a public shop? No
                Where to you work from: Home
                Do you resell and service watches. Yes.

                December 25, 2014 at 8:19 am #61080
                tmac1956
                Participant

                  Current Involvement: Uncontrollable compulsion
                  Current Job: Computer Science Instructor (Post Secondary)
                  Have you been formally apprenticed? No
                  If yes, what was the name of your Master Watch/Clockmaker? N/A
                  How many years have you been involved in horology: I think a little over two years (I’d have to check the date of my oldest post to be sure)
                  Do you have a commercial business, with a public shop? No
                  Where to you work from: Home
                  Do you resell and service watches, or just a hobby: I don’t make money – I only spend it. ;)

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