Servicing & Selling all types of timepieces
with over 60 years of experience.
Over 60 years experience, with two horologists to serve you…
Jay Foreman was born in Los Angeles and, according to his mother, was a “born watchmaker”. At the age of two he took apart his first clock. Of course it would be several years before he put it back together. Jay began his watch-making apprenticeship under his father in 1941 and mastered his clock-making skills under the instruction of T.H. Martin.
In 1955, following his return from serving in the U.S. Army in Korea, Jay established his own business, House of Clocks, in downtown Los Angeles. What began as a one man watch and clock repair shop eventually grew to as many as fifty employees, providing factory watch service for watch manufacturers such as Omega, Longines, Citizen, Bulova, LeCoultre, Audemars, and Blancpain in addition to trade watch repair for jewelers throughout the United States. Shortly after moving to Cambria in 1990, Jay and his wife Susan opened Once Upon a Tyme.
Jay is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute. Past Director of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, Member of the National Association of Watch & Clock Museum, and Member of Willard House & Clock Museum. He was also Horological Editor for the Pacific Goldsmith Magazine for ten years and contributed to the J. Paul Getty Museum book entitled CLOCKS. And over years he has been a featured speaker at various conventions and meetings… the most memorable being an Atmos Clock Program for horological students in Kyoto, Japan and an Automata Presentation for the United Federation of Doll (Collector) Clubs.
Jay and Susan are avid collectors of watches, clocks, automata, and antique dolls. And for many years they shared the thrill of automobile racing both in Sports Car Club of America and historic racing events, bringing home many awards including the prestigious Pebble Beach Cup.
Phillip Ehorn was born in Porterville and raised in Fresno. When Phillip was in elementary school he became interested in clocks. At the age of 17 he built his first grandfather clock from plans he purchased from the Emperor Clock Co. The Emperor Clock Co. reported that Phillip was the youngest person to undertake such a project. Over the years, while pursuing many interests, Phillip was continually drawn back to clocks and watches and a desire to understand what makes them tick.
Phillip graduated from California State University Fresno with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. He then attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture. Throughout his college years, Phillip’s knowledge and appreciation for antiques increased, particularly in the fields of Wedgewood, Royal Bayreuth, sterling silver items, art glass, and of course, timepieces.
During his years at Cal Poly, a life changing experience occurred; Phillip met Jay Foreman. The rest as they say, is history. Over the years Jay became Phillip’s horological teacher. And by 1995 Phillip was working with Jay full time. A Life Member of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute and a Member of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Phillip has proven that he was destined to become a watchmaker/clockmaker.
And finally, while not a clockmaker or watchmaker, but definitely part of the team…
Susan Foreman has worked along side her husband in the watch and clock industry for over thirty-five years. Having received her college degree in Business Administration, Susan has always had an interest in the financial and administrative aspects of business. And although Susan does not repair watches or clocks she does have a vast interest in their history. To this day she relishes the challenge of researching the history of a timepiece. In addition to her fascination with watches and clocks, she has a fondness for all types of antique dolls, thus the addition of dolls at Once Upon a Tyme.
Jay Foreman was born in Los Angeles and, according to his mother, was a “born watchmaker”. At the age of two he took apart his first clock. Of course it would be several years before he put it back together. Jay began his watch-making apprenticeship under his father in 1941 and mastered his clock-making skills under the instruction of T.H. Martin.
Jay is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute. Past Director of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, Member of the National Association of Watch & Clock Museum, and Member of Willard House & Clock Museum. He was also Horological Editor for the Pacific Goldsmith Magazine for ten years and contributed to the J. Paul Getty Museum book entitled CLOCKS. And over years he has been a featured speaker at various conventions and meetings… the most memorable being an Atmos Clock Program for horological students in Kyoto, Japan and an Automata Presentation for the United Federation of Doll (Collector) Clubs.
Jay and Susan are avid collectors of watches, clocks, automata, and antique dolls. And for many years they shared the thrill of automobile racing both in Sports Car Club of America and historic racing events, bringing home many awards including the prestigious Pebble Beach Cup.
Phillip Ehorn was born in Porterville and raised in Fresno. When Phillip was in elementary school he became interested in clocks. At the age of 17 he built his first grandfather clock from plans he purchased from the Emperor Clock Co. The Emperor Clock Co. reported that Phillip was the youngest person to undertake such a project. Over the years, while pursuing many interests, Phillip was continually drawn back to clocks and watches and a desire to understand what makes them tick.
Phillip graduated from California State University Fresno with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. He then attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture. Throughout his college years, Phillip’s knowledge and appreciation for antiques increased, particularly in the fields of Wedgewood, Royal Bayreuth, sterling silver items, art glass, and of course, timepieces.
During his years at Cal Poly, a life changing experience occurred; Phillip met Jay Foreman. The rest as they say, is history. Over the years Jay became Phillip’s horological teacher. And by 1995 Phillip was working with Jay full time. A Life Member of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute and a Member of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Phillip has proven that he was destined to become a watchmaker/clockmaker.
And finally, while not a clockmaker or watchmaker, but definitely part of the team…
Susan Foreman has worked along side her husband in the watch and clock industry for over thirty-five years. Having received her college degree in Business Administration, Susan has always had an interest in the financial and administrative aspects of business. And although Susan does not repair watches or clocks she does have a vast interest in their history. To this day she relishes the challenge of researching the history of a timepiece. In addition to her fascination with watches and clocks, she has a fondness for all types of antique dolls, thus the addition of dolls at Once Upon a Tyme.
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