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Martin Rice

Details

Antique and Heirloom Clocks
Tacoma, WA
Toured In
12, 14

Martin Rice has participated in the antiques business since 1974. As a young man he joined a Seattle-area auction house that grew to be one of the largest in the Northwest.

He learned many aspects of running an auction but came to realize that his real love was the restoration of clocks, his favorite being the Vienna Regulator. In the early years he worked for several woodworking companies, but inevitably came back to antiques, largely because he was convinced his work would be appreciated for many generations to come. He has always felt it a privilege to work on pieces of such high quality and historical interest.

This led to his establishing Heirloom Clocks in Tacoma, Washington, in 1995, offering services of clock appraising, overhauling, restoration, and sales. To a lesser degree, Martin also enjoys restoring fine 19th- and 20th-century furniture and music boxes. His restoration services include carving, veneering, turning, dial re-silvering, and French polishing, among other options as requested. Martin is a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. He has lectured about antique clocks to groups interested in learning more about clocks. "There is something new to be learned every day in the clock world," Martin says.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is an antiques appraisal event and television production; we do not buy or sell objects, and conducting any business with an appraiser at the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event is strictly forbidden.

If you decide to do business with an appraiser who has appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, please keep in mind these tips before consigning or selling an item:

  • Get more than one referral and check references
  • Get valuations of your item from more than once source
  • Compare options between different types of sellers, i.e., a dealer versus an auction house
  • If you are considering consigning an object for auction, be sure to inquire how the item will be priced, the size of the fee, and the expected amount of time the process may take. Find out what will happen if it doesn't sell.
  • Check the appraiser's professional associations (such as International Society of Appraisers, American Appraisers Association, National Auctioneers Association)
  • Consult an attorney before signing a contract
  • Whatever kind of transaction you decide to enter into, always get a detailed written receipt for your records

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s pool of experts are professionals with a wide range of experience in the antiques, fine art and collectibles community, and they are from a diverse background of auctioneers, dealers and appraisers.

All ROADSHOW appraisers are independent volunteers who donate their time and expertise to PBS and who pay their own expenses to be on the show. All business transactions are independent from ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.