HSNY’s inaugural exhibit, “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”, will be on show from January - May 2020. Photo credit Ellen Wallop.
Next time you visit the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) don’t be surprised if you see a new setup with clocks adorning the shelf-lined walls. For the first time in its 154 year history, HSNY is showcasing a loan exhibit with more than 45 items illustrating horology’s rich history.
The inaugural exhibition, titled “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”, was graciously loaned by the eponymous Fellow of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors (NAWCC) and Chairman of the NAWCC Time Symposium Committee. Frishman also serves as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and is Founder and Owner of Bell-Time Clocks.
The exhibition is currently on show at HSNY and features clocks, watches, portable pocket sundials, tools & instruments and ephemera dating as far back as 1784. Highlights include a Bedside Watch Display reportedly sold at the 1851 London Crystal Palace World’s Fair, a Clockwork Telegraph Register (c.1850) used for recording incoming telegraph signals later decoded by an operator, and a “Phonometer” used in 1918 to time costly telephone calls of the era.
Bob Frishman shares the spotlight with his collection. Photo credit Ellen Wallop.
“My hope is that visitors will find the exhibit interesting, unusual and educational,” said Frishman, who submerged himself in the world of horology in 1980 and has not looked back since. “It is more “Smithsonian” than “Metropolitan Museum of Art”. It’s an honor to loan HSNY its first exhibit and I invite members and visitors to consider loaning some of their own treasures for future exhibitions.”
“HSNY's inaugural loan exhibit, “Highlights of the Collection of Bob Frishman”, is a delightful diversion for anyone with an interest in the esoteric side of horology,” said Nicholas Manousos, HSNY President. “The breadth of Frishman's collection is on full display, with a wide range of clocks, watches, sundials, tools, instruments and ephemera. Don't miss the candle-illuminated night clock, the "Sectora" watch or the "Golden Vision" mystery clock.”
Guests can visit HSNY and view the exhibition currently on display until May 2020. Exhibition times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4PM, or by appointment. For appointments, please email info@hs-ny.org. HSNY is located at 20 West 44th Street, Suite 512, New York, NY 10036.
A fact sheet of installed collection items can be found here.
For more on Bob Frishman, please visit http://www.bell-time.com/. His lecture on horology in art, which took place at HSNY’s monthly lecture series on January 10, 2017, can be found here. Frishman currently serves as HSNY’s Exhibit Curator.