Central Illinois Chapter 66 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
Our 2010 Year in Review
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Illinois Pocket Watches
Fred A. and Fred E. Hansen, father and son, gave an informative presentation on Illinois Pocket Watches. They brought some early pictures of the factory that was located in Springfield. The elder Hansen pointed out parts of one of the buildings and told the story of where the part went and/or what happened to it. Both gentlemen share a brief history of the Illinois Pocket Watch beginning with 1870 when it started as the Incorporated Springfield Watch Company.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Illinois Watch Co. Database
With two big screens set up and using his computer to display the information, Russell Snyder provided an informative and enjoyable presentation on the Illinois Watch Co. Database. It took about a year and a half to compile the database working around forty hours per week. He showed several original pages from the Illinois Watch Company factory ledgers. He pointed out that he began keeping a record of the company errors but ceased to do so after a few hundred errors were noted.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A History of the National Self-Winding Clock Co.
National Self-Winding Clock Company historian, Ray Brown, provided an historical overview of the beginning of a relatively undocumented company, the National Self-Winding Clock Co., which started in Chicago in the late 19th century. The company began business manufacturing battery-wound office clocks for factories and institutions. They relocated to Champaign, IL by Dec. 1905 and a factory was built. A group of Chapter 66 members toured what remained of the factory prior to the presentation.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Restoration of the Champaign County Illinois Court House Tower and Clock
In 1975 Bruce Hannon noticed the Tower Clock was not running. Hit three times by lightning, the original tower been shortened by forty-five feet. Fortunately though, the inner workings of the clock, the gears and pendants were fine and were replaced; the bell was returned to the top of the foreshortened tower. After seeing a 1920 picture of the original Champaign County Court House Tower his interest was further piqued and a labor of love began which resulted in his participation in the Committee that helped to oversee the old court house exterior being completely refurbished with a new tower being part of it.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Show and Tell
* Rich Willis shared a Sessions Clock Salesman Sample. It has an alarm mechanism and an advertisement of Thomas Edison on it.
* David Gardner showed a Regulator Clock shipped from Japan in 1970 and wanted to know how he could find its value.
* Frank Nachman brought a 14K gold pocket watch that his Dad got in a Poker Game for $20.
* Bob Donnelly had a clock that had been redone. Parts had been painted black and he stripped them and replaced some veneer. He thought it had possibly been a model made for the World’s Fair.
* Fred E. Hansen shared a favorite American Pocket Watch – with a 554 serial #, a Samuel Curtis circa 1854-65.
* Fred A. Hansen shared items and information on Captain Philip Van Horn Weems who was Captain on one of the ships in the Armada to assist the three planes that flew before Lindberg. Weems patented the Navigation System he developed.
* Walter McGuire provided the members with a look at a WWI and WWII Hamilton Pocket Watch. He shared Hamilton’s map reading for measuring distances. Hamilton also made other items.
* John Herron shared his auction experiences and displayed a large clock from a jeweler’s with the Herron name on it.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
"My Experiences Attending the Clockmakers Program at the School of Horology."
Carl Lair provided an excellent presentation describing his experiences taking five classes at the NAWCC School of Horology. His interest in clocks began with the purchase of a single mantle clock. A suggestion that Carl join the NAWCC, prompted him to check into the NAWCC and what they had to offer. Descriptions of each class were provided and examples shared of some items required and samples of a few items made by Carl at the various classes.