Time Machine Project

TymerC · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: Harvey Mayo Warning / Inquiry

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

If anyone has made the mistake of doing business with Harvey Mayo would they please e-mail me at "oldetimeetc@aol.com". Sadly I trusted this person to build me a Time Machine miniature and Tantalus Box .....almost 3 years later I'm out alot of upfront money and nothing to show for it. I have also found out I'm not the 1st person he's done this to. Plus I know at least one other person has been waiting 10 YEARS for his! I would love to talk to others in my same situation. Please e-mail me some contact info and I will respond ASAP. I would warn anyone from hiring Harvey for any projects regardless of his skill as a craftsman since he hasn't (at least with me) kept any promises he has made. Please post here too if you've had the same problems as other future "victims" should be aware of this.

I'm still interested in getting a model and am persuing other avenues. If anyone else is interested would they please let me know?

Nick · Newbie Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 5

Hello TymerC,
Just read your post about Harvey Mayo, and I feel bad for your situation, but I must tell that I have worked with Harvey on many projects over the Years, and their have been times when Harvey was delayed, or unable to complete a project on time, but he always managed to catch-up, even if it took longer then expected, and he always came though with a high quality piece. I have never lost out on any project I gave to Harvey, even though I had to wait. This may not help your situation, TymerC, but my feeling is, be patient, I am sure their is a good reason for his delay!!.
Nick

TymerC · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:

Nick ....no offense to you but man get your head out of the clouds. I've known Harvey for over 20 years and "was" good friends with him till he pulled this crap on me. I'm a Watch and Clockmaker that specializes in restorations of all timepieces dating as far back as the 16th century and I have worked in the film industry before making props and still do some things on the side so I have a good idea of how long even complicated projects can take and it sure isn't 3 FRIGGING YEARS !!!!!!!!! Did you not read that I've already mentioned theres another person thats been waiting 10 years or do you honestly think he's going to make mine first ???? Gimme a break !! 3 years of hearing the same tired excuses! I won't even go into detail about trying to talk to him face to face like adults when he won't answer his phone, return your calls or answer his door when hes positivley home!! The few rare times I have talked to him on the phone all I get is the same lame tired dumbass excuses. I've even asked him to at least show me what hes done to prove hes even working on it and refuses! I don't know about you but if I or anyone else conducted busines like this I wouldn't be in business very long!! As a good business man I take care of my customers which means not hiding from or ignoring them and if I can't deliver on time as promised I show GOOD FAITH by calling and SHOWING them the work is being done! Its called having GOOD BUSINESS ETHICS and thats why I get return customers! No use asking for my money back cause hes spent it !! Next time your over at your 'ol buddy Harv's , why don't you take a look and see if hes even working on ANY Time Machines cause in 3 years I've seen no proof hes even started mine or anyones! If you don't belive anything about what I've said then ask Don Coleman...so quit kissing Harvy's feet and wake up !! You ever want to talk in person e-mail me a phone number...I have an earful to tell ya !!

Nick · Newbie Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 5

TymerC,
It is obvious that you are very angry about your arrangement that you made with Mr. Mayo and that is unfortunate, but I still feel that their is an explanation. My other concern is, it is my understanding that Don Coleman set up the message board for the purpose of discusion related to the Time Machine, about the movie, the Author(Wells), and other interesting facts about Time Machine, but I don't think it was set up for venting unhappy feelings toward another person. I think that you should sent Mr. Mayo a letter if you are unhappy, for I don't think I, or any one else needs to here your complants, this forum is not the proper venue for this. Another thing I will tell you, my unhappy friend, I don't appreciate your commants on my business relationship with Mr. Mayo, I think I am begginning to see why you might be having a problem with him, might be your attitude!!!, don't you think?.
Nick

timemachinewells · promising newcomer Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 23

Hi TymerC

As much as I understand your frustration, I can tell you that I have not come across a single person among the few truly gifted model makers able to create an impressive likeness of the Time Machine that is any faster than Mr Mayo at making a Time Machine model !

For example, the enterprise Granite City Mechanician announced a very elaborate model, way back in 1991. I placed an order for it back then. It was to be ready within six months. Here we are fifteen years later and it still has not been delivered. Some people who ordered it like I did have indeed received their model, but most have not.

I thought I would do better having a good local friend of mine (I live in the Montreal region of Canada) make a model for me (using a Lunar Models kit as the basis). That friend is a perfectionist and decided to rebuild most of the parts of the kit. It's great work, but the problem is that the model was started in 1997; yet, to this day, it remain unfinished !

I know of another VERY gifted model maker living in New Jersey that also has a waiting list that is years long. I will not mention his name here because my goal isn't to flame anyone, but I do know he has some customers getting very impatient and one of them complained to me that he has not even heard from him in two years !

Unfortunately, it appears they all seem to take the line "all the Time in the World" a bit too literally !

I wish it were otherwise, but at the moment, this is the situation that prevails and, if one wants a very high quality model, one has to be very patient.

TymerC · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:26 am Post subject:

Mr Nick,

It is very obvious you are a retard. Harvey called me and offered me an arrangement (which I foolishly took) not the other way around. Get your facts straight before you go talking about something you know absolutely nothing about. All your doing is defending piss poor business practices and letting everyone know that it might not be a good idea to do any business with you either. Frankly I don't give a tinkers damn how talented you think Harvey is. Bottom line is he took money from me and others and thinks its ok to forget his promises he makes. And if you think I'm impatient then maybe you should know I sat and waited almost a full year past the time he PROMISED he'd deliver my project before I started complaining.
I almost fell over laughing when you advised me to write a letter! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!....god you are stupid if you think a letter is going to do any good over several hours of combined time spent on the phone over the past 3 years of trying to reason and talk with Harvey...those were rare ocassions I could even get him on the phone..... HAHHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHA !!! That is funny man...you are hilarious !!!
I wouldn't even be continuing this but you force me to have to explain myself when all I want is to warn others and talk to others in my same position. As for my attitude...its great....I just have zero tolerance for people whose word is no good.
Four last words after painfully reading your post......."spell check" and "english course"......I'll be looking for your next post....I could use the amusement...LOL

TymerC · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:54 am Post subject:

Hello Mr TimeMachineWells,

Thanks for your response but having loads of talent doesn't do a bit of good if you don't deliver what one pays for. I have several friends in the film industry who are equally talented but they take care of their customers. I was to get a replica of the Wah Chang version & box which has considerable less detail and takes less time to make then a miniature of the full size machine.
I'm also aware of Granite City's Time Machine and the ridiculous time some people have been waiting for one. I'm just glad I never fell into that trap. I also have friends who make from scratch complicated watches and clocks that are far more high quality than any model and they don't take 10 years making them! If your friend in Canada told you UPFRONT that it would take 10 years or more to deliver your model and you agreed then thats another thing isn't it? If you didn't agree to sit for years waiting then he shouldn't take any money from you if he couldn't finish your project in a reasonable amount of time...thats the ethical thing to do. Its a thing called "TRUST" and at least in my business if no one can take you at your word then your nothing.
I'm already discussing with other parties about the possibility of producing a Wah Chang machine w/box but would like to know if anyone might be interested please feel free to drop me an e-mail...thanks and have a good day.

timemachinewells · promising newcomer Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 23

Hi TymerC

I have been a fan of The Time Machine for over forty years and have as yet not found anyone else but the people I mentioned above that could do a faithful likeness (scratch-built) of the Time Machine as it appears in the Pal movie.

Yes, I have talked to other prop builders, model makers, etc. And all said that they could "easily" do it. Yet, when it came down to deliver, none of them could - not even make an adequate prototype. It's not just a matter of making a model but understanding what the model is about; and capturing the subtleties and artistry of this design.

I keep up with all that's being done in the field. I also write for this website about other fans who make their own models. But these fans make models for themselves only and, very few make scratch-built ones and even fewer make working ones.

Lately, some other people have contacted me about their projects for a Time Machine model. But I am still waiting for any of these people to show me a result and it hasn't happened yet. If you have contacts with anybody else who claims he can do it and can deliver now, I would be very curious to hear about it and to see a prototype. But allow me to remain skeptical until I see it.

Yes, I know the people I mentioned are incredibly slow, but what distinguishes them from others is that they have been true fans of the Pal movie and the Pal Time Machine design for decades and have studied it for years and they have already produced impressive models.

Why they take so long ? I have no explanation for it, but I know all of them as otherwise honest people.

TymerC · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject:

Hi Mr Timemachinewells,

Just a comment on the last sentence of your last post:

"Why they take so long ? I have no explanation for it, but I know all of them as otherwise honest people."

Honest people don't hide from their customers or their inquirys.
Honest people don't hide behind their answering machines..they answer their phones or return your calls.
Honest people keep their word and reasonably fullfill their obligations.
Honest people return money taken when they can't fulfill a contract as promised or at least offer you that option.
Honest people when asked, show some proof they are even making your project or let you see your project so you at least can see its being done.
Honest people will talk to you face to face like an adult when there is a problem.....or at least over the phone if the latter isn't possible.

You see Mr. Timemachinewells.....I have "been" friends with Harvey
for over 20 years but have never done business with him til a few years ago. Years before that I started collecting movie iconic props from different favorite films. Harvey knew a Time Machine was on my want list. Ive even had him over to my clock show we have in Pasadena every year.....where do you think he got some of the precision tools he uses on his models? Cool

His behavior actually shocks me and like you thought well of him ...till now.
Whats disturbs me even more is so far you guys think all this is acceptable because of "who they are". You or others choose to sit around and wait year after after year with the hopes that some day your "model god" will finally bestow on you the privilege of owning his work....well thats your choice. I for one have no idea how much longer I'll be on this planet and I'm not spending it sitting around for something that will most probably never come. All I ever asked in the beginning is some good faith evidence that he was even working on my project...can't even get that....which doesn't inspire trust. You do know there is one guy that been waiting 10 years do you? Some of us may not be around that long. I am confident a machine prototype will be built. so far other than yourself no one has expressed interest but we'll see ok? Take care. Very Happy

timemachinewells · promising newcomer Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 23

Hi TymerC

I did not say I was happy about the situation. What I have said is that I have not found anybody else but those people that could do a great job of it. If you do find somebody else, please do let me know. But I have looked for alternatives for years and have not found them. I wish it were otherwise, but it is not.

TymerC · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject:

Mr Timemachinewells,

Tell ya what.....I'll e-mail you a pic of the first finished Time Machine if it happens which I'm sure it will. In the meantime how bout backing me up here? I feel alone here when I know darn well there are others in my same situation but have yet to step forward and be recognized. So instead of trying to make excuses or give some explaination to these type of business practices , we should instead not tolerate this kind of behavior and say so. It isn't right and we should all band together and make sure others don't fall victim to this kind of practice. You seem to agree with me and if you do I hope you will say so here. I sure could use a few allies here....Thanks either way

timemachinewells · promising newcomer Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 23

There is not much I can say other than what I already have. I am not making excuses for anyone, just stating the facts.

As to your first comment, I would like to believe it, but I have heard it so many times in the past, that I don't anymore and will not until I see an actual prototype and see proof that somebody can - on a consistent basis - deliver a high quality and accurate working Time Machine model within a short period of time. To quote you, "if it happens". Indeed.

You have stated your point clearly in regards the long waiting period for a Harvey Mayo model and I have remarked that the waiting period for a model by any of the other gifted model makers I know is at least as long and often even longer.

But at this moment in time, we have no alternative.

TymerC · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:36 pm Post subject:

Hello Time Travelers,

What a week...been getting some interesting mail from some of Harvey's victims. So far one has given me his permission to post his e-mail to me. I'm hoping others will come forward and quit fearing the wrath of the "model god". You should find this interesting reading. Here's his e-mail he sent me:

"Harvey Mayo burned me very badly on two separate Time Machine deals. Don Coleman and others are very much aware of this. I would never recommend him to anyone for anything. I would strongly caution anyone interested in buying a Time Machine model from Harvey, not to.

It's always the same modus operandi - he takes your money, up-front, and then usually all of it by the time it "nears " completion, and then it's one excuse after another why he can't deliver. He's broken so many promises with me personally it's sickening. Regarding the commissioning of a Time Machine model from Harvey Mayo, ...BEWARE!" - Chris Perrotta

frankie · Master Temporal Mechanic Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 96

Well Well
How we are are connected!!!!
One of Harveys mandated requests was that i NEVER post on this site,I never tell anyone about our deal.and i never tell anyone about my model!!!!
I am one who has gotten screwed as well.
I will post a lot of details later.
Most of my dealings are similar except that i have hired a lawyer,filed suit,and am waiting to pull the trigger on a major shock for Harvey.
I did receive a model[incomplete] after three years. I showed the judge the model.
I am still waiting for a Tantalus box[its been four years] and Harvey emailed me three months ago saying it was near completion!!!!

TymerC · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:26 am Post subject:

Bravo Frankie !

I'm looking forward to reading the details and thank you very much that you and Chris have spoke up. You might be interested in knowing I'm also in the process of having all of Harveys ads pulled from publications like Debbies book and The Hollywood Cheat Sheet. If anyone is interested in complaining to these advertisers e-mail me and I will forward their phone numbers and names. Your added complaints go a long way in helping me see to it noone else goes thru this again. Also if anyone knows anywhere else he is advertising I would be like to know. Thanks again and keep those posts coming!