Date: Fri 03-Jul-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Goodman

Full Text:

Jones & Horan Auction The Irving Goodman Collection

w/2 cuts

By Rita Easton

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn in Manchester was

the site of a May 30 and 31 auction conducted by Jones & Horan of Goffstown,

N.H.

More than 1,000 watches and 65 marine chronometers, the collection of Irving

Goodman, were offered. Some 200 bidders at the site as well as phone and left

bids brought the gross to $522,000.

"Goodman is presently living in Los Angeles," said Patty Jones of the gallery,

"and he's known as a serious coin collector.

In addition to featuring one of the largest and most coveted timepiece

collections to reach the market, the Jones & Horan team is one of the few

auction houses in the country to conduct its sales with no premium, no

reserves, and no sales tax.

Bringing the highest bid of the two-session event, a Patek Philippe

Observatory Chronometer realized $9,000. The turn-of-the-century lot measured

approximately 50mm across its round face and was purchased by one of the top

dealers in the country. The dealer is based in San Francisco. The high-grade

piece had a feature that told when the watch needed rewinding.

A California private collector won a Howard "K" size movement and dial only,

without case, at $8,000, which was a record for any Howard with or without

case; and a series 1 Howard in a gold case went to a private Florida collector

at $4,800. A gentleman from Germany purchased a late Howard movement pocket

watch, possibly 1920s, at $3,700.

Hamilton watches generated intense competition, with a model #947 reaching

$6,800, and a model #927 going out at $3,000. The #947 was not attributed that

number in the watch reference books, causing the bidder to question the lot,

but on-the-spot attribution was made by an associate at the NAWECC (National

Association of Watch and Clock Collectors), who was present and who verified

the model number with a call to the museum library.

Of 65 marine chronometers, a Frodsham two-day example fetched the highest

price, $4,100, with the rest ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

"The selection of marine chronometers was the largest to come on the market in

recent years," stated Patty Jones.

The next Jones & Horan auction is scheduled for July 25 and 26.