my new gn basket clock - new question  

new question
So now the seller refunded me $100 for the damage. I only proposed the refund, contingent on whether the clock can be fixed. I took it to a caning shop and it will cost $80 to recane the center circumferential region including the damaged area, but leave the perimeter intact. Then he will relaquer the whole clock so you wont know the difference, although he said from the back you will. I think if it works, it will look very nice. My question is whether it will affect the value of the clock? I think I should just send the clock back at this stage.

I know I'll get into trouble
but I think the clock is soundly worth the $288.00, damage included.
If I had won the clock, I might've asked for a partial refund, but I would've wanted to keep the clock. I think the repair can be done easily without it showing much, and truthfully, it's not at all as common as the ball or spike clock.

thanks barry
Actually I think I was incorrect and I paid 248 for it. Maybe you are right and I should get it fixed and keep it. I think it would look really nice lacquered. It would save me the hassle of repacking and shipping the thing back. I just wonder if it loses value is if it is re-weaved?

Don't worry about,
its resale value or value in general if it's a piece that you like.
PERSONAL value is worth way more than MARKET value.

thanks
Yes you are right Dudedah. I just like the idea of owning something valuable. And if it being broken and recaned makes it worthless, than I am not as excited about hanging it on my wall. I know it's silly...

Rockybird
I never had a problem selling something for full value if it was a PROFESSIONAL repair. If it is real, if it is vintage, and if you can point out to the potential customer the professional repair, it loses no value, (okay, maybe 10%).
What really drops the value are haphazard repairs/restorations done by non-professionals, i.e. stripping the original finish off of a piece, repainting a piece, replacing the hardware with incorrect knobs/pulls, etc., regluing a piece and leaving obvious drips, and on and on. In other words, if it looks like a do-it-yourselfer did it and it looks like crap, the value drops dramatically. If it looks like a professional repair or recaning or reupholstery or whatever, it's no problem.
My advice, take your clock to a recaner or furniture refinisher and pay to have it done unless you are very confident in your own abilities. If it is professionally repaired, you will not devalue the clock. BTW, I would not lacquer it. If it was always just a natural stained finish, don't try to make it shiny.

thanks Riki
The furniture caner said that he would have to laquer it because he needs to recane the center circmferential portion. There is no way he could get the material to match the original, as it is so old.

So
he wants to redo the whole middle portion? That kind of seems like overkill, however, he is probably saying that he needs to reweave all of the broken pieces all of the way around rather than just patching the one spot. Then, after he has rewoven all of the threads he will need to lacquer the whole thing so that you cannot tell the new strands from the original strands. Is there any way that you can see pictures of other things that he has fixed before you make a final decision? If it were me, I would just send it to Spanky! Her work is awesome!

thanks riki
I saw your post too late...I just returned from the caner shop. I must have misunderstood him. He says he will only have to mend the general area where it is broken. I took your advice and asked him not to laquer it. He said he would oil it and that it is so brittle (and it is!) that the oil will protect it. He said when he is finished, I will not know the difference. He showed me a couple areas on the clock that had already been replaced! I didnt even notice them. Anyway, he was such a nice old guy and really seemed to know his stuff that I left the clock with him. He agreed to repaint the hands also, but I left with the precious second hand wrapped in a towel. I also got my GN table clock today! I will post pics soon.

That's the way to do it
it's really not that damaged, and I would never seal up that old dry wicker...only oil that puppy.
Does the motor work quietly?

well..,
I plugged it in at the caner shop and it does hum, like yours. The little red hand works perfect, but the minute hand tip is laying flat against the clock. I am scared it will break trying to turn against the wicker. The hour hand tip does not look broken off. I briefly entertained the thought that maybe the hands were put on from another clock. But the minute hand looks consistent with other basket clocks and its position is correct. I think the clock hands must just be a variant. Hopefully after the clock is fixed and oiled the minute hand will be able to turn freely. Maybe this is an older version? It is SUPER BRITTLE. And in this arizona dry air, probably a matter of time before it disintegrates.