My name is Rob Tompkins I am the Tinkerman. I started down the road of watch collecting and repair when my dad gave me my grandfather's Longines from the 1950's and asked me to look into getting it repaired. Ironically, my grandfather was an hobbyist clock repairman. That watch was the spark that has lit a passion.
Passion - n. Strong barely controllable emotion.
This passion has carried me through the "agony and ecstasy" of learning watch repair, the ups and downs of watch collecting, and the wins and loses of watch selling.Years later, I am still passionate. I don't know what it is about the whirling of the wheels or ticking of the escapement that excites me, but it does. Perhaps, it is bringing a hundred year old relic back to life, or finding a home for a $10 cast away flea market find. Whatever it is, I love it. I currently work out of my home with the blessing of my lovely wife who could not be more encouraging, but I have big dreams of expanding someday into a watch repair / antique empire...The Tinkerman Market has a nice ring to it....time will tell :-)
I launched my website TinkermanWatches.com in September 2015 to share some of what I have learned and found with the watch community. While I am self-taught, I am extremely grateful for all of the help I have gotten along the way. Watchmakers are a very sharing breed. I have met many individuals that are willing to share their business knowledge, repair tips, parts bins, tools, etc. I would not have been able to learn the trade without such individuals. I have been challenged, encouraged, chided, and applauded. To everyone that has helped along the way. Thank you!
Passion - n. Strong barely controllable emotion.
This passion has carried me through the "agony and ecstasy" of learning watch repair, the ups and downs of watch collecting, and the wins and loses of watch selling.Years later, I am still passionate. I don't know what it is about the whirling of the wheels or ticking of the escapement that excites me, but it does. Perhaps, it is bringing a hundred year old relic back to life, or finding a home for a $10 cast away flea market find. Whatever it is, I love it. I currently work out of my home with the blessing of my lovely wife who could not be more encouraging, but I have big dreams of expanding someday into a watch repair / antique empire...The Tinkerman Market has a nice ring to it....time will tell :-)
I launched my website TinkermanWatches.com in September 2015 to share some of what I have learned and found with the watch community. While I am self-taught, I am extremely grateful for all of the help I have gotten along the way. Watchmakers are a very sharing breed. I have met many individuals that are willing to share their business knowledge, repair tips, parts bins, tools, etc. I would not have been able to learn the trade without such individuals. I have been challenged, encouraged, chided, and applauded. To everyone that has helped along the way. Thank you!