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| Larry Chelmow Ch 8 VP (left) and luncheon speaker Keith Bakker |
Workshop presenters: Bob Simon (left) and Dan Haff |
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Charles & Debby Ronquest, Keith Bakker, and Joe Green |
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The chapter Autumn Meeting was held at The Holiday Inn, Boxborough Woods, Massachusetts, on Saturday October 10, 1998 ,.with a registered attendance of 334 members and guests and 93 mart tables in the Parade Room. On going with its commitment to provide quality speakers and workshops the fall meeting was no exception , and Larry Chelmow and the program committee provided a very fine program.
The first workshop was a slideshow presentation by Bob Simon. entitled "Time Management and the Industrial Revolution," .Bob's presentation outlined the development of the Industrial clocks from the first watchman's recording clocks, master clock systems, bank and .the development of the first watchman's recording clocks and time clocks, master clock systems, and self winding clocks. The good quality slides represented many examples of industrial clocks and provided a technical insight into the movements, operations,designs,and purpose of clock systems from both America and Europe.
Bob Simon is a past President of the NAWCC Chapter # 39 -Allegheny , in Western Pennsylvania. . One of Bob's collecting specialties is master clocks and their systems. He is a civil engineer responsible for railroad construction efforts for the Commuter Rail Operations in the greater Boston area
Chapter President Bob Merrill welcomed members and guests. He reviewed the Chapter Symposium and the visit to the American Clock and Watch Museum at Bristol.
He also reminded Members that the next meeting will be at The Sturbridge Post Host Hotel on February 03 1999 and is an election meeting.
The day's featured speaker was Keith Bakker who discussed the difference between restoration and conservation, focusing on the wooden structures and coatings typical of clock faces, as well as issues of cleaning and in painting of clock cases and clock faces. He reviewed materials and methods appropriate for polishing metals, and environmental control issues relevant to the preservation of clocks and watches, and the ethics of conservation; the issues of cleaning and in painting of clock cases and clock faces. Tips were provided on what to use and what not to use in restoration work, reminding us that most work is for the qualified. The use of modern epoxies and materials to restore the piece and maintain its integrity and preservation of the clock and watch collections according to accepted museum practices.There were many questions ,and the presentation was well received
Keith Bakker is the Senior Furniture Conservator for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. He received his conservation training at the Conservation Analytical Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution, with a master's degree from Antioch University. He has worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art analyzing paints and varnishes on Colonial New England Furniture, at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont,conserving painted wooded objects, and at the Museum of New Mexico with a two year post graduate internship at Los Alamos national Laboratory analyzing varnishes and paints on New Mexican furniture and religious objects. Before graduate school, he spent over ten years working in Vermont as a cabinetmaker and furniture restorer.
The afternoon workshop "The rise and fall of the Hamilton Electric watch", was a story about the development and marketing of an electric watch. The workshop was presented by Dan Haff who has been collecting and reading about the Hamilton revolutionary watch for some twenty years using sharp advertising slides, Dan outlined the history of the watch during its period from 1961 through 1969. It's bold and different design, making it unique to many consumers then and one that appeals to collectors today. Finally its decline in 1969 due to service problems brought on by the hasty release of the first watch and the entry into the market place of the Bulova Accutron and other battery watches As the events of the Hamilton watch unfolded ,it was easy to see what had attracted Dan to Hamilton Electric Watch 20 years ago. .An interesting subject and well received by all who attended,. For more information on the Hamilton ,Dan recommends reading "The Watch of the Future" by Rene Roneau and his articles about the Hamilton Watches published in NAWCC Bulletin # 291, August 1994 and # 313 ,April 1998. Dan Haff is a Chapter Eight Member and lives in Massachusetts.
Other Chapter Eight Highlights
The Chapter Eight Web page is now linked to the American Clock Museum at Bristol and the Willard House and Clock Museum.The page is updated regularly by the Webmaster Ron Price, and can be viewed at www.plads.com/nawcc008/
Ron Price is a Chapter Eight Member, better known for his research of the Waltham.Model 57 pocket watch, the subject, he presented at the 1997NAWCC Seminar at Bristol Connecticut.
At The Willard House and Clock Museum's Annual Christmas Tea, on December 6 1998, .Joe Brown ,Willard House Trustee and Chapter Eight Council Member, demonstrated clock making in Benjamin Willard's workshop.This is an Annual event in which Willard house participates in the "Chain of Lights" which is sponsored by the Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce. Joe Brown recently attended the four day training program for Field Suitcase at the NAWCC School of Horology He is now qualified teacher for the Field Suitcase Program.
1998 AUTUMN MEETING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
1998 AUTUMN MEETING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
Holiday Inn at Boxborough Woods, Massachusetts
VENUE: The Holiday Inn, Boxborough Woods, Massachusetts. The Hotel is located on the east side of Route 1-495 at exit 28. Those desiring overnight lodging should contact the hotel directly at 978-263-8701.
The Chapter hospitality suite will be open on Friday 9th, at 5.00pm -- ask at the front desk.
Registrations before October
3, 1998 are $18 .
Registrations received after October 3, 1998 and "walk-ins"
will be $25
As always, registration includes your luncheon and is required
for participation in any of the meeting activities.
| 7:30 AM |
Registration name tags available for those members who preregistered. Registration table open for "walk-ins". |
| 8:00 AM | Mart area open for setup by table holders. Security on duty. |
| 8:30 AM | Mart opens. |
| 9:30 AM |
Morning workshop "Time Management and the Industrial
Revolution" presented by Bob Simon. |
| 11:30 AM | Mart room closes for luncheon break. Mart security remains "in place" |
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12:00 noon |
Luncheon "Conservation of watches and clocks" Keith is the Senior Furniture Conservator, for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities |
| 1:30 PM | Workshop - Selected speaker, to be announced at the Symposium |
| 3:00 PM | Mart closes - Mart security ends. |
THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER BOB MERRILL:
To those of you who have so far responded to our request
for new officers, thanks. Not a done deal, come on and make a
better chapter.
For those who are spreading the news of Chapter 8's demise, please ask those who know. We have and will share any information you need.
Despite a small meeting in August and less mart tables than we like, we are sound and growing. Look for some changes in location as the mart is not supporting itself. See me for details. I am proud of the way we recognize and accommodate change. Be sure we have your input.
Mentoring is one of the most rewarding things we can do. We need many people in many locations to make it happen. Right now we have a need in the Worcester, MA area. Can you help. We must provide real friendship and contact for new members and anyone feeling lost in the shuffle.
VICE PRESIDENT AND PROGRAM CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE --Larry Chelmow:
It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. We've gotten
this notice out as early as possible so as to be able to remind
people of the Symposium on September 19 in Bristol. The presentations
coupled with the tour of the American Watch and Clock Museum
should make this a great day. The luncheon presentation for the
October meeting should be a must for all collectors. Keith Bakker
of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities
will talk about the care and preservation of our clock and watch
collections.
We are still working on completing the October meeting program - the afternoon watch workshop is still to be determined. We're always looking for people to give workshops and luncheon presentations. Please contact me if you have an interesting subject to present. My telephone number is (718) 828 - 1626.
From the Treasurer -Bob Frishman-
Members have been asking recently about our membership and meeting-attendance numbers. Here is a quick summary.
Our chapter had 1213 dues-paid members in 1995, 1070 in '96, 1036 in '97, and 1038 this year. Average meeting attendance was 389 in 1995, 369 in '96, 367 in '97,and 348 so far this year, with our big October meeting yet to come. As you can see, we are one of the largest NAWCC chapters, and we know it is because of our many excellent programs, large well-run meetings, and the active support of many of our members. Please let me know if I can provide any of you with more details on our numbers.
Who's who in todays meeting:-
Keith Bakka
His slide show presentation will explain the difference between restoration and conservation, focusing on the wooden structures and coatings typical of clock faces, as well as issues of cleaning and in painting of clock cases and clock faces. We will briefly review materials and methods appropriate for polishing metals, and environmental control issues relevant to the preservation of clocks and watches. The intention is to help members make informed decisions regarding the care and preservation of their clock and watch collections according to accepted museum practices.
Keith Bakka is the Senior Furniture Conservator for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. He received his conservation training at the Conservation Analytical Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution, with a master's degree from Antioch University. He has worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art analyzing paints and varnishes on Colonial New England Furniture, at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont conserving painted wooded objects, and at the Museum of New Mexico with a two year post graduate internship at Los Alamos national Laboratory analyzing varnishes and paints on New Mexican furniture and religious objects. Before graduate school, he spent over ten years working in Vermont as a cabinetmaker and furniture restorer.
Bob Simon is a past President of the NAWCC Chapter # 39 -Allegheny, in Western Pennsylvania . One of Bob's collecting specialties is master clocks and their systems. His workshop is a slide program that will follow the development of the first watchman's recording clocks and move into the area of time clocks, master clock systems,bank and industrial clocks. The slides represent many collections and will provide a technical insight into the movements, operations designs, and purpose of clock systems from both America and Europe.
Bob is a civil engineer responsible for railroad construction efforts for the Commuter Rail Operations in the greater Boston area
Bob's workshop is a slide program that will follow the development of the first watchman's recording clocks and move into the area of time clocks, master clock systems,bank and industrial clocks. The slides represent many collections and will provide a tecnical insight into the movements,operations designs, and purpose of clock systems from both America and Europe.
Chapter Eight Council
President: Robert L. Merrill
Past President Dr.Edmond Cooley
1st.Vice Presiden Lawrence Chelmow
2nd.Vice President Joseph Delaney:
Treasurer: Robert Frishman
Secretary Brian Wilcox
Directors:
Joseph Brown, FNAWCC; William Gray Eberly, FNAWCC;
George Grant; Richard Hauck; John Lelievre; John Tuckwood
Associate Directors: Wayne Paskerian & David Deutermann