The city has passed up a chance to purchase a valuable collection of 1,500 watches and clocks amassed by Rockford industrialist Seth Atwood. The collection, many pieces of which had been on display at the Museum of Science and Industry, may be sold in auction as early as this October. The city was hoping to collect $25 million to purchase the collection, but raised only $761,000. On the bright side, the collection was on display for a while at the museum, where it was seen by thousands of visitors.