| I was about ten years old when my mother | | | | thought it was the most beautiful case and |
| brought out a can of brass cleaner and asked me | | | | timepiece I had ever seen. From then on my |
| to polish our old brass door bell and the brass | | | | life’s passion started. |
| house numbers on the porch. | | | | I started a collection that included brass cash |
| I can remember polishing the old brass and | | | | registers, brass surveyor’s equipment, old |
| enjoying it so that I did it with much enthusiasm | | | | English brass instruments, telescopes, military and |
| and did so for many years after. I loved the | | | | marine brass and of course pocket watches, |
| exquisite look of the old brass and the deep rich | | | | vintage watch chains, fobs and Victorian jewellery. |
| patina with probably a hundred stories to tell. | | | | I amassed a very large number of vintage |
| Another family lived in the house for more than | | | | lady’s and men’s pocket watches, as well |
| 25 years before we arrived. | | | | as vintage wrist watches. With no more room to |
| From that day on I started to hunt down and | | | | collect, I became one of the original dealers at the |
| collect any little bit of interesting antique brass | | | | Harbourfront Antique Market in Toronto, Canada |
| that I would find at flea markets and junk tables, | | | | where I bought, sold and traded for over 20 |
| and be able to afford on my allowance. As a | | | | years. Today finds me running an internet site for |
| teenager I came upon a vintage pocket watch at | | | | the past 12 years. |
| a flea market which was gold filled over brass. I | | | | |