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FeedSep 12, 201211:43 AM
The Fortner Furniture Clock Before the Building Was Demolished
Photograph courtesy Max Savant Photography
All this talk about the old clock that once topped the Fortner Furniture Company building, and not a single image of the clock itself.
Until now, provided by my pal Max of Max Savant Photography.
As you can see, until its last days the huge metal disk still carried traces of the neon tubing that outlined the numbers and hands. This photo also shows some of the nice ornamental stone (or concrete) work that adorned the building, located at Summer and National.
Richard Smith also posted a terrific picture of the clock on my Facebook page.
I've recently been in contact with members of the Fortner family, and yes I know who now owns the old clock, so once I talk to them, I should be able to give you the whole story — past, present, and future — of this Memphis landmark. And I guess you already know what I hope they — or someone can provide: a nice photo of the clock taken at night, when all that neon was working.
It was just a big ole clock, but to so many people, it was so much more. It's interesting how many people remember it so fondly.
Ask Vance is the blog of Vance Lauderdale, the award-winning columnist of Memphis magazine and MBQ: Inside Memphis Business. Vance is the author of two books: Ask Vance: The Best Questions and Answers from Memphis Magazine's History and Trivia Expert (2003), as well as Ask Vance: More Questions and Answers from Memphis Magazine's History Expert (2011). He is also the recipient of quite a few nice awards, the creator of several eye-catching wall calendars, and the only person we know with a vintage shock-treatment machine in his den. 
Hope some has saved it from demo
Tbeck@crye-leike.com
As a young boy in the early 1960's, I played golf at Chickasaw Country Club. As I approched the green on the eighth hole, I looked in amazement at the Fortner furniture clock. Thanks for sharing the photo.