CALL BOX

Call Box: Time ticks on at new location for Sandmark

Sandy Strickland
Kerstin Chelius, retired owner of Sandmark House, is reflected in a new grandfather clock in her Beach Boulevard showroom in this 2011 file photo. (Florida Times-Union)

Dear Call Box: What happened to the House of Clocks, which used to be on Beach Boulevard for years. There was a sign saying they had moved to another location, but I couldn’t find it. I have a clock that I want to have repaired.

D.T., Jacksonville

Dear D.T.: The Sandmark House, which had been at 10913 Beach Blvd. for 39 years, closed a year ago. The owner, Kerstin Chelius, who has about 50 years’ experience, retired. The landmark blue building from which Chelius sold clocks, music boxes, timepieces and related items, was sold and torn down. The repair shop — you will be glad to hear — moved half a mile west to 10150 Beach, Suite 9, and is now known as Sandmark Chacon.

Owner Tony Chacon said he does not carry the extensive inventory that Chelius did but has the same connections and could order it if someone wanted a particular clock, synchronize it and go over what the buyer needs to do to keep it running for years.

Chacon does restoration, repairs and alterations for customers and museums. If customers want to change the color of their dial or their melody, for example, Chacon can do so. The shop is a family operation. His wife, his father and his son have worked at Sandmark through the years.

At one point Chelius had the largest selection of clocks in the Southeast and featured clocks from across the world, including cuckoo clocks from Germany’s Black Forest, Howard Miller grandfather clocks, nautical clocks and instruments, time and tide clocks and barometers.

For information call (904) 641-5005.

Dear Call Box: You had an article listing local charities that will come and pick up items, but I haven’t been able to find it. We are in an estate situation, and we’ve got some items that we want to donate. Could you tell me who they are?

B.K., Jacksonville

Dear B.K.: We’re happy to answer it again. There are a number of organizations that say on their websites that they will pick up furniture and other bulky items too large to transport to a donation center by car. They include The Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, the City Rescue Mission, Hubbard House, Goodwill Industries of North Florida, Habitat for Humanity and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, all of which operate thrift stores.

Call to ensure that your items qualify and to set up a time. We’ll be glad to mention others that we may have left out.

Dear Call Box: I have about a dozen swimming and soccer trophies that I would like to donate to some organization that might be able to repurpose them.

L.R., Jacksonville

Dear L.R.: You can take the trophies to the Teacher Supply Depot at 3108 Lenox Ave., which gives free school supplies to teachers. The nameplates will be removed and new ones put on to reward students for good conduct, sports achievements or academic accomplishments. For more information call (904) 381-7480.

Update: In response to a reader in need of someone who can repair an antique National Cash Register, we did hear from a man, but he failed to leave his name or phone number. We would love to hear back from him or anyone else who can work on the cash registers.

Submit questions by calling (904) 359-4622 or mailing to Call Box, P.O. Box 1949, Jacksonville, FL 32231. Please include contact information. If you have a picture to offer with your question, feel free to send it.

Sandy Strickland: (904) 359-4128