Connecticut
Chapter 148
NAWCC

Chapter 148 (CT) held its first meeting of 2019 on Saturday morning, January 19. With over ninety members and guests in attendance, our chapter's continued strength is a credit to the efforts of our congenial and hard-working officers, Al and Cheryl Comen.

Al Comen and others offered assistance to a member seeking advice on how to remove extremely hard old putty from the door of a ca. 1825 pillar & scroll-style shelf clock with a missing tablet. Methods discussed included the use of heat or denatured alcohol to help soften the putty; the use of a rotary tool with slitting saw and steel bit attachments; wielding a hammer and sharp chisel; removing veneer from around the door; use of a sanding stone; practicing; and doing the work outdoors to avoid releasing dust or fumes into the household atmosphere.

Tom Vaughn's table featured an unusual flute bearing the date of 1833. It was produced by wooden clock and musical instrument maker Asa Hopkins at Litchfield, CT. Hopkins' father and brother also possessed wood turning skills. Tom reported that an example of a spinning wheel produced by a Hopkins family member is in the collection of the Plymouth [CT] Historical Society.

Tom Vaughn (CT), presiding over his mart table (picture right), with the 1833 Asa Hopkins flute in the foreground (click for larger view).

Several members responded to the chapter's request to bring in their oldest horological items for a group presentation. David Ewbank, for example, brought an interesting early (18^th century?) European clock in a crude wooden case that had suffered a number of modifications during its apparently more-than-two-century lifetime. With an iron frame and brass gears, the (probably) 30-hr. time and alarm movement, now with a crown wheel escapement, turned a single hand on the dial.

Tom Vaughn brought a mid-18^th century English fusee pocket watch movement housed in a 1763 case. He explained that the movement's parts had been produced in a cottage industry. Tom Grimshaw brought a remarkably intact example of a clock whose movement had also been produced in a cottage industry. It was made by Joseph Gay at Turin, Italy, ca. 1785.

Jim Katzin's contribution was a very large, very unusual, loose wooden tall clock movement with a count wheel over 6 in. in diameter, and a tin escape wheel, all probably dating to the last quarter of the 18^th century. A second wooden tall clock movement brought by Tom Vaughn, was produced by A. & C. Edwards at Ashby, MA, ca. 1785-1796.

Many thanks are due to the presenters, exhibitors, and table holders whose efforts made our meeting a thought-provoking and delightful one. In addition, special thanks are due to early American watch scholar and researcher Ron Price (MA) for devoting much of his spare time and talents to designing and maintaining our chapter's web site, and for posting our highlights, for the past 20 years. We extend our best wishes to Ron in his upcoming move to a warmer climate! His gracious help and good humor will be greatly missed.

Meetings In 2018
Meetings In 2017
Meetings In 2016
Meetings In 2015
Meetings In 2014
Meetings In 2013
Meetings In 2012
Meetings In 2011
Meetings In 2010
Meetings In 2009
Meetings In 2008
Meetings In 2007
Meetings In 2006
Meetings In 2005
Meetings In 2004
Meetings In 2003
Meetings In 2002
Meetings In 2001
Meetings In 2000
Meetings In 1999

Meetings In Years 1996 - 1998