Chapter 8 brought the year 2001 to a close with a large meeting at the Host Hotel in Sturbridge MA. Over 300 registered for the meeting. There were 77 tables in the mart. The silent auction was packed with all types of items. The chapter's strong emphasis on education was continued with three programs in addition to all the mart activity.

Jerry Maltz was our first speaker. Jerry is a member of seven NAWCC chapters and a council member of NY Chapter 2.

Edward Baird's advertising clocks was the subject of Maltz's talk. His program gave us an insight on how Baird started his clock making business. Starting in Montreal, Canada, Baird's first clocks were made of papier-mâché and he used Seth Thomas movements. Baird traveled extensively selling his clocks to advertisers throughout Canada and the U.S. When orders were secured, he would return to his shop and make the clocks with the advertiser's messages embossed on the top.

In 1889 Baird moved to Plattsburg N.Y. where he produced cases made of wood in addition to papier-mâché. Baird left New York in 1897 and moved to Chicago. There he started using Ingraham movements, and the cases were made of wood and tin.

During his life Baird had twenty-three patents on clocks. When he died, his clocks were no longer produced-Baird being a one-man clock business.

Jerry's lecture was very interesting and informative. He shared many slides of Baird clocks that he has in his own collection. Another great program offered by Chapter 8.

Arnoud Meurs, a chapter member, returned for his second talk this year. His colorful slide presentation covered "200 Years of Dutch Domestic Antique Clocks: 1670-1870." Arnoud is a specialist in Dutch horology. He has a passion not only for collecting and repairing Dutch clocks but also for their historical significance. His well organized presentation brought forth pictures of clocks that most of us rarely see in contrast to other European clocks that appear on the American scene.

Arnoud divided the time span covered into three major periods. The first period 1680-1720, the second 1725-1775 (the best period) and the last 1775- 1815. There were Zaandam, Stoleclock, and Staartclock styles to go along with the periods.

The Dutch started early and also shared information with England. The first period showed the influence of John Calvin-austere looking cases. In the second phase, marquetry was introduced, and the styles began to change. By the last period the influence of Napoleon's army and the French people resulted in a fancier case and decorative dials. The Dutch clocks gradually became animated and displayed biblical, windmill or military scenes. Later Dutch dials became colorful with lots of flowers, figures and other forms of decoration.

Arnoud never lost sight of relating the many fine examples to the current culture of their time and the influence of other countries in bringing about a change in the Dutch style.

Dr. J.T. Fraser, founder of the International Society for the Study of Time, was our luncheon speaker. Dr.Fraser is acknowledged to be the world's leading scholar in the interdisciplinary study of time. For those of us that think of time in terms of watch or clock collecting, selling or repairing, Dr. Fraser brought some philosophical thoughts for the group to think about.

Such statements as "we impart beliefs to a non-thinking item, -how do we know the time is correct? - Concept of before and after is us- not in the clock- and humorously clocks remind you of time passing without being asked" are thoughts he threw out to the audience. We were then asked to ponder the idea that a timepiece going forward or backward comes from us-not the clock or watch. Dr. Fraser's philosophical approach emphasizes that clocks reach out to affect all human life. A most thought provoking presentation.

---- Dave Gallup and Dick Trepp