Cliff Hammond, owner of ‘It’s About Time,? has been in the clock servicing business for 30 years.
‘I think it’s a sign of maturity to be able to recognize why people can enjoy a clock. They’re not fixed on it or anything, but it’s pleasant to have around. It adds a voice and a heart beat to a house. The heartbeat is the tick of a grandfather clock and the voice is the chime,? Hammond said.
He started out as part time in 1977 in Bloomfield Hills, and then went full time in 1979. In 1981, he opened another shop at the Clarkston Mills and ran two shops until 1984. In 1990, he moved his shop from the Clarkston Mills to his current location 7151 N. Main Street.
‘It’s a carry over from a hobby where it became much more satisfying than the job I had before, he said. ‘It’s very satisfying to work for yourself, you get to enjoy the ups and go threw the downs without too much concern about anything except paying the bills.?
Hammond interest in clocks came in his late 30’s. He said a clock ‘is something that is both mechanical, and artistic, and furniture,? but his main interest was in the mechanics.
‘I would buy old clocks, repair them, sell them, finance and buy more to repair and sell until that circle grew to the point where I opened a shop. Then that grew to the point where I went to it full time and have been thoroughly enjoying myself for the most part ever since,? said Hammond.
Hammond sells a variety of clocks ‘From traditional to unique and some antique,? including grandfather, wall, key wind, quartz and cuckoo clocks. He said he mainly deals with newer clocks, because they are easier to service.
‘Old clocks are very demanding,? he said. ‘There is always a reason why they quit making something; they quit making it because it had something better. There are some fantastic old clocks, and there are some new ones that are less than fantastic.?
Hammond said there is much more to a clock than just telling the time.
‘There is a difference between a clock and time. I think a person who is truly driven by whatever can’t enjoy a clock. Because they can’t take time off from whatever is driving them to look around and enjoy what is pleasant,? he said.
‘I think a person who is comfortable can enjoy a clock, comfortable with life, comfortable with their situation, comfortable with themselves.?
Movies and books have often portrayed clock collector’s with having eccentric personalities. Hammond said that is not the case in his opinion.
‘I know many, many clock collectors who are far from being eccentric,? he said.
Hammond said having his own business has been rewarding because of customers as well as being the owner/boss not having to work for someone else.
‘It’s very satisfying seeing people enjoy the product that I service and sell,? he said. ‘It’s a different type of person who wants to be on their own. You don’t have the security of a paycheck, but you do have the security that you’ll never be laid off, might not make any money, but you still have a job, you just work for nothing.?
Hammond said there was only one year he ‘worked for nothing,? it was 1981, but so did a lot of people. He has the clocks in his store all set to different times so there is always a chime going off.
‘It can be very relaxing, depending on the outlook of the person, some find the chime irritating, and personally I think they find a lot of things irritating.?
Hammond has sold clocks in 48 of the 50 United States including both Hawaii and Alaska. He has also sold some to Mexico, Puerto Rico and had some customers buy a clock from here and take them to their home country including India, England, and Germany. As well as selling well over a thousand clocks in the general area.
Hammond has been married 46 years to his wife Pat, who is a retired college professor who taught nursing. She helps him twice a week in the store, while he makes service calls.
‘She wasn’t completely supportive of me, spending my time buying clocks and working on them and what have you, but she now enjoys the clocks, too,? said Cliff.
‘But she’s been exposed to them for quite some time. And she’s become pretty knowledgeable about them, too.?
They have two sons, Bryan who lives in Michigan, and Dean who lives in Arizona. Both are in advertising.
Hammond said he has learned to take his tool box with him on vacations.
‘I guess people have come to expect it,? he said. ‘They always have questions and maybe a clock waiting for me when we get there.?
Holiday hours are until Dec. 23, Mon- Tues. 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Wed-Sat 10 a.m. ? 6 p.m. and Sat. noon- 4 p.m. Normal hours will resume on Dec. 26, Wed- Fri 10 a.m. ? 5 p.m and Sat. 10 a.m. ? 4 p.m.