Selling & Servicing Timepieces - Over 30 years of experience
Susan Foreman, Proprietor
Susan, having received her college degree in Business Administration, has always
had an interest in the financial and administrative aspects of business. And
although she 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. As a member of the National Association of Watchmakers and Clockmakers, Susan has written several articles for their publications.
In addition to her fascination with watches and clocks, she has a fondness for
all types of antique dolls. And for many years she raced Porsches in Sports Car Club of America events and a
variety of cars in historic races. To this day she is still known for the
Porsches she drives.
Phillip Ehorn, Horologist
Phillip was born in Porterville and raised in Fresno. When he was in elementary
school he became interested in clocks. At the age of 17 he built his first
grandfather clock from plans purchased from the Emperor Clock Co. The Emperor
Clock Co. reported that Phillip was the youngest person to undertake such a
project.
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 field of timepieces.
During his Cal Poly years a life changing experience occurred; Phillip met Jay
Foreman. The rest is history. Jay became Phillip's horological teacher. By 1995
Phillip was working with Jay full time, learning from the master. Phillip is a Life Member of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute and a Member of the British Horological Institute. Phillip, like Jay, was destined to become a watchmaker/clockmaker.
Once Upon A Tyme has a rich heritage from the world renowned House of Clocks in
Los Angeles.
Once Upon a Tyme was founded in 1991 by Jay and Susan Foreman. Jay Foreman was a foremost
watchmaker and clockmaker, and considered a master by all who knew him. His
dedication and contributions to the field of horology were numerous. He was a Fellow of the British Horological Institute and Past Director of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute.
For forty years Jay and his wife, Susan, worked side by side. Prior to opening Once Upon a Tyme, Jay and Susan built House of Clocks in Los Angeles. HOC was one of the largest watch and clock trade shops in the world, had up to 55
employees, repaired as many as 350 timepieces a day, and provided factory watch service for watch manufacturers, such as Omega, Longines, Citizen, Bulova, LeCoultre, Blancpain, and Audemars in addition to providing watch repairs to jewelers throughout the United States.
Jay and Susan also wrote a monthly column for the Pacific Goldsmith Magazine and contributed to the J. Paul Getty Museum book entitled CLOCKS. They were featured speakers at various conventions and meetings...the most
memorable being at a horological school in Kyoto Japan and an automata
presentation for the United Federation of Doll Clubs.
Although Jay passed away in February 2011, his legacy continues at Once Upon a Tyme.
