Sign-In
Cart
My Grandfather's Clocks: The True Story of a Grandson's Search for an American Inventor's Lost Collection
Hardcover
Biographies GeneralGeneral Antiques & CollectiblesGeneral Parenting
Publisher Price: $45.95
Publisher: Big Brick Review
Published: Jul 2 2024
Pages: 272
Weight: 1.53
Height: 0.88 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
My Grandfather's Clocks (The true story of a grandson's search for an American inventor's lost collection), 59K words, is a memoir recounting a grandson's search for a missing 13-clock collection, each designed and handcrafted by his grandfather, Charles Allison, in the 1930s-1950s.
PICTURE IT - SUMMER 1908:
Growing up in rural Western NY, Charley Allison was raised in a farming family. At 16 in 1908, all that changed. Noting potential in the boy, a family friend loaned him an oversized Gubelin pocket watch to study/repair...and a watchmaker was born.
CHARLEY'S COLLECTION: Relocating to Los Angeles, watch repair became Charley's bread and butter but, sometime around 1936, he began to stretch his skills. His first creation was the Allison Mystery Clock, a time-keeping device with no visible means of propulsion. Over a period of 15 years, he added 12 unique timepieces to the Allison Collection-displaying them in his Sherman Oaks, CA shop. People from all over began to take notice.
WATCHMAKERS, ENGINEERS, & HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES: The Allison Shop Guest Book records signatures and comments of praise from many visitors, including Charlie Ruggles (Bringing Up Baby) and Dana Andrews (The Best Years of our Lives). Upon Charley's death, the collection was museum-bound. Unfortunately...it was lost.
PICTURE IT: September 1981.
One autumn evening, Greg Allison's dad had a scotch and told him a story about his own father, Charley Allison, and the fantastic clock collection Charley had designed and hand-crafted. The big draw was the grandfather's Allison Mystery Clock, which had gained a little fame through word of mouth and some local newspaper articles. Charley thought of the design for this clock in a dream. The Allison Watchmakers visitor log includes signatures and comments from celebrity names of the era, such as:
- Gene Krupa, drummer for The Benny Goodman Orchestra wrote In sincere appreciation of the love you have for your work--I'd like to be able to keep time as well as your clocks and watches do--and I'm supposed to be a fair drummer!
- Mary Astor, who starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, wrote This is something new and different!
- Sterling Holloway (the voice of animated Winnie the Pooh) said For The Wizard of Time Allison. The Modern Joshua.
That night in 1981, 15-year-old Greg Allison vowed to locate the missing collection when he grew up. And a quest was born. He never dreamed that it would take over 40 years and would lead him through multiple American subcultures, including Western NY's Amish community and the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. Or that, after several cross-country research trips, he'd finally rediscover the clocks in an unlikely place-a former church building in Montana. Or that, along the journey, as a gay man, he would gain insights into manhood-and what it means to carry forward a family name.
Each chapter begins with a quote from Allison Watchmaker's shop guest book. The narrative includes technical dissection and detailed interior photos of the recovered timepieces.
1 different editions
Also available
My Grandfather's Clocks: The True Story of a Grandson's Search for an American Inventor's Lost Collection
Allison, Gregory Gerard
Paperback
Also from
Allison, Gregory Gerard
My Grandfather's Clocks: The True Story of a Grandson's Search for an American Inventor's Lost Collection
Allison, Gregory Gerard
Paperback
Also in
General Antiques & Collectibles
Long Range Shooting Handbook: Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting
Cleckner, Ryan M.
Paperback
Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins Volume 1
Fivaz, Bill
Stanton, J. T.
Hardcover
Military Workout: Train Like a Soldier: The Complete Military Workout Plan for Strength, Fat Loss, and Mental Toughness
Publishing, Zero Excuses
Paperback
Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy Deluxe Edition: Includes USB Cable and Vinyl Stickers
Riordan, Conor
Paperback
Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin
Rosenbloom, Megan
Paperback
Broad Stripes Bright Stars: A Graphic History Celebrating 250 Years of America's Icons
Hinrichs, Kit
Hardcover
The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card
O'Keeffe, Michael
Thompson, Teri
Paperback
The Everything Coin Collecting Book: All You Need to Start Your Collection and Trade for Profit
Giedroyc, Richard
Paperback
Baofeng Radio for Preppers: The Ultimate Survival Communication Guide for Unpredictable Times
Clark, Michael
Paperback
Vintage Rolex New Edition: The Largest Collection in the World
Silver of the Vintage Watch Company, David
Hardcover
The Grandfather Clock Owner's Repair Manual, Step by Step No Prior Experience Required
Lloyd, D. Rod
Paperback
Art of the Japanese Sword: The Craft of Swordmaking and Its Appreciation
Yoshihara, Yoshindo
Kapp, Hiroko
Kapp, Leon
Hardcover
The Complete U.S. Error Coin Guide 2026: A Collector's Handbook to America's Rarest Coin Mistakes
Merritt, Jaxon
Paperback
Military Ribbon Guide Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force & Coast Guard
Foster, Col Frank C.
Paperback
Wristwatch Annual 2026: The Catalog of Producers, Prices, Models, and Specifications
Braun, Peter
Paperback
SINGER FEATHERWEIGHT Simplified: A Beginner-Friendly User Guide to Setup, Confident Sewing, Creative Projects & Lifetime Care
E. Collins, Margaret
Paperback
The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History
Brooke-Hitching, Edward
Hardcover
Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan & Peace Silver Dollars 5th Edition-Part I
Van Allen, Leroy
Mallis, A. George
Paperback
Watch Repair for Beginners: An Illustrated How-To Guide for the Beginner Watch Repairer
Kelly, Harold C.
Paperback
Art Legacy Compass: Guidance for Managing, Downsizing, and Transitioning an Artist's Studio and Estate
Longe, Mary E.
Paperback
Exceptional Watches: From the Rolex Daytona to the Casio G-Shock, 90 Rare and Collectable Watches Explored
Mazarian, Clément
Collection Personnelle
Hardcover
The Cuckoo Clock Owner's Repair Manual, Step by Step No Prior Experience Required
Lloyd, D. Rod
Paperback
Ohio Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff
Gurvis, Sandra
Paperback
Houdini's Library: Inside the Spellbinding Collections of the Great Illusionist
Colleary, Eric
Hardcover
Handbook for the Recently Deceased: Movie Prop Replica Book, Perfect for Halloween Costumes and Gifts! (Large Print Edition)
Movie Art, Beetlejuice
Paperback
The Stuff of History: A Curated Compendium of Curious Objects and Forgotten People
Moore, Steven
Hardcover
Harry Potter: Hagrid with Harry's Birthday Cake ("You're a Wizard, Harry"): With Sound!
Lemke, Donald
Paperback
License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History, 1903 to the Present
Fox, James K.
Paperback
Disney/Pixar the Color of Toy Story: A 30th Anniversary Celebration of Colorscripts and Creativity
Pixar Animation Studios
Hardcover
Hello Kitty and Friends: You're My Bff: A Fill-In Book
Hagan, Merrill
Humphrey, Kristen Tafoya
Hardcover
Comic Book Apocalypse!: The Death of Pre-Code Comics and Why It Happened, 1940-1955
Hogan, David J.
Hardcover
Professional Gunsmithing: A Textbook On The Repair And Alteration Of Firearms
Howe, Walter J.
Paperback
The Comprehensive U.S. Error Coin Guidebook 2026: Identify, Grade, and Value Rare U.S. Mint Errors with Clear Photos and Expert Tips
Coleman, Richard A.
Paperback
Dream of Blossoms NOTEBOOK [ruled Notebook/Journal/Diary to write in, 60 sheets, Medium Size (A5) 6x9 inches]
Viola, Iris a.
Paperback