Merry, red-cheeked members and guests flocked to the historic Edmond Town Hall on November 17, a brisk autumn Saturday morning. Gratefully inhaling the aroma of hot coffee, a spectacle of sumptuously laden mart tables unfolded before them.

Mart offerings included two wooden movement shelf clocks dating from the 2nd quarter of the 19th century bearing seldom seen labels. These graced the table of the (thankfully) inimitable David Ewbank (CT). The first, produced by Smith & Bros. of the Bowery, NYC, contained an 8-d Jeromes & Darrow movement. The second was "...made and sold/by Butler & Henderson/Annapolis, Nova Scotia".

Meeting attendees included the very modest but no less highly skilled cabinet and clock case maker, Andrew Doback of Naugatuck (CT). Perhaps one of Andrew's least known accomplishments is an exquisitely detailed scale model of the ca. 1870 2nd Empire-style Naugatuck Town Hall, regretably now demolished, complete with its tower clock and furnishings. This amazing work is currently on exhibit at the Naugatuck Historical Society Museum.

Our guest speaker was Snowden Taylor, FNAWCC. A retired professor of physics, Snowden is well known for his many significant contributions in the area of the history of American clock making. These include (but are by no means limited to): The Developmental Era of Eli Terry and Seth Thomas Shelf Clocks (1985); keys to Noble Jerome patent 30-hr. brass & related weight-driven movements (Bulletin No. 221 Part II, 1982); and keys to identifying Terry-type 30-hr. wooden movements (Bulletin No. 208, 1980). Together with the late Kenneth Roberts, he is co-author of Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock (2 eds., 2^nd ed. 1994). Snowden chairs NAWCC's Research Committee, and edits the Bulletin's column "Research Activities & News"--the place many readers, by their own admission, unfailingly turn to first.

Snowden's presentation, entitled "Joseph Ives: for Good or Bad", traced the innovative groundwork Ives laid for several early technical developments in the manufacture of clock movements. These included wagon springs as power sources, the use of rolled brass and other metals in movement making, and a tin-plate movement of ca. 1860, the precursor of late 19^th and early 20^th c alarm clock movements.

Snowden's interpretive analysis of the Ives' chronology, which encompassed two bankruptcies and a stint in debtors' prison in New York City, centered around a remarkable collection of photographs. His cast of characters ranged from "Uncle Joe" Ives himself, to a warmly supportive community and an unrepentant villain. Although Ives demonstrated nearly utter incompetence relative to financial exigencies of his business, peculiar extravagances and awkward contrivances punctuated moments of sheer brilliance reveal themselves in his work. Thus Snowden compellingly characterized Ives' legendary achievements.

Snowden's longstanding, intense interest in movements, labels, and unrestored clocks as primary source data has caused them to yield many wonderful secrets that might otherwise have gone undiscovered. No less important, however, is the assistance, encouragement, and inspiration he abundantly provides others over an amazingly broad field of technical and research interests that has multiplied such discoveries.

Special thanks is due to a small army of talented, creative, energetic, and gracious chapter volunteers. In particular, we thank Lou Sadowski, Peter Beliveau, Don & Carol Montory, Don Bruno, and Cheryl Comen, whose efforts provided hosptiality and wonderful surprises for members during 2007.

Happy holidays!
-- Mary Jane

The July meeting of Chapter 148 convened at the Edmond Town Hall on Saturday the 21^st.  Members sadly recalled one of their number, Dana Blackwell of Naugatuck, CT, who passed away on June 14.  

No biographical sketch of Dana would be complete without mentioning his accomplishments as author, lecturer, classical scholar, worldwide horological consultant and restorer, designer of aircraft instrumentation, and collector. Dana's lifelong involvement with horology included a career with the Howard Clock Products Company, culminating with his selection as the firm's president.  Dana's skills earned him a directorship at the American Clock and Watch Museum, a post he held until the 1990s. Dana was a member of the Antiquarian Horological Society, and a founding member and first president of the Naugatuck Historical Society (CT).

Despite a demanding schedule, Dana found time to instruct others in mechanical horology. Dean Spencer of Cheshire, CT a carpenter and electronics expert by trade, is privileged to be one of a number of chapter members to attribute skills and a high level of connoisseurship to Dana's legacy.  Dean learned the craft of repairing fine, precision weight-driven regulators from Dana, and recalls pleasant times.

In the spirit of Dana's legacy, David Follett volunteered an informal educational program centering around a Timothy Cheney, East Hartford, Connecticut tall clock movement with a fine English dial, both dating from the third quarter of the 18^th century. David shared skills such as distinguishing hand-sawn teeth from milled and machine sawn types, enhancing the listener's knowledge and appreciation for American antique tall clocks. Self-taught watch repairer Don Peach of Southington, CT contributed a lesson in special-issue railroad watches.

The meeting also featured a more formal presentation, given by Tom Grimshaw (CT), focusing on connoisseurship from a rather unusual perspective. Tom, a distinguished collector, longtime restorer,  researcher, lecturer, and learner, possesses both an uncanny eye and a deep connection with antique clocks--particularly those that might initially appear "ordinary". 

Using objects dating from the 19^th to mid-20^th centuries exerpted from his remarkable collection, Tom shared one intellectual thrill of discovery after another. These pleasures included (but were by no means limited to) an ogee  case containing a very rare prototype "Kirk's patent" iron-backplate movement; a German crystal regulator clock ca. 1893 with an operating Ferris wheel above, commemorating the Columbian Exposition of 1893 held in Chicago; an electric radio clock in a wooden case ca. 1950; and an unusual cottage clock with a scrimshaw tablet.

Ferris wheel clock, German (possibly Junghans?), ca. 1893.	Guest speaker Tom Grimshaw answering questions on rare and unusual clocks.

Thanks is due not only to Tom for contributing generously of his time, talent, and efforts, but also to the many other members whose valuable assistance helped transform the July meeting into an extraordinary event!

 
Have you visited NAWCC's home page?

The American Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut

The Timexpo Museum

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