April 2021 Presidents Message,

Well it has been quite a year for all of us.  The COVID pandemic has been hard on all of us, some more than others.  Horology has been good COVID free activity for me and hopefully the rest of you too.  My shop has never looked so good.  I got some clocks fixed and tools made that would have been on list for many more years.  Even my garden had a low weed count never seen before.

But now with the vaccine here things are gradually coming back.  The NAWCC National Convention is planned for July 15-18.  I will be giving a talk on the Ferguson Clock at the British Horology meeting during the convention.

The South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus has started having meetings in the last couple of weeks and BINGO returns on April 5.  Masks are required but attendance has been high.  Possibly due to some pent up demand to meet and enjoy your hobby.

Chapter 47 has planned our first meeting back for September 12 at the South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus.   We have been given a donation from the family of Lewis Wienske of some tool boxes filled with tools.  Lewis was a watch and clock repairer and a former student at the MATC Horology class.  The items will be sold to members at the meeting.  Proceeds will go to the chapter.

I will be giving our educational talk in September on the Strasbourg Astronomical Clock, certainly one of the world’s greatest clocks.

A November meeting is planned for November 14, 2021.

You will be given credit on your dues for the missed meetings in 2020.  If you already paid dues for 2020 at $25/year you will be given a $20 credit towards 2021 and 2022 as we only had 1 out the 5 scheduled meetings.  The dues will be only $10 for 2021 as only 2 meetings are planned.

Hope to see you all there.  Masks will be required!!!

Thanks,
Craig

August 2020 Presidents Message,

COVID-19 has put a damper on Chapter 47 activities for 2020.  The March and May meetings were canceled and now I am sorry to let you know we have to cancel the September and November meetings as well.  Health is our number one concern and our average age puts us into the high risk category.

You will be given credit on your dues for the missed meetings in 2021.  If you already paid dues for 2020 at $25/year you will be given a $20 credit towards 2021 as we only had 1 out the 5 scheduled meetings.  Same for Gold Card,  $8 credit from the annual $10 gold card.

The Midwest Watch and Clock Mart was also cancelled at the VFW post in Antioch IL on August 22, 2020.  It is chapter 47 turn to run the event next year in 2021. 

I hope everyone is getting some horological projects done and staying healthy.  Keep in touch with other members to keep our hobbies going.  In the next couple of months the weather will be getting colder and we can get back to our workshops and clocks and watches.

Thanks,
Craig

After much deliberation, due to circumstances including, but not limited to, the COVID19 virus,  we have decided to cancel the March 15th Mart. This decision was not made lightly and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.  Stay safe and healthy.

Happy New Year to everybody. Start it out right by coming to the January Mart on the 5th, at the Knights of Columbus, 732 Badger Avenue, South Milwaukee.

January 2020 Presidents Message,
Bruce Shawkey presented “The Golden Age of the Swiss Wristwatch” based on his latest book (available at brucesvintagewatches.com) at the November meeting. Many Swiss wristwatch brands came out after World War 2 to meet the pent up demand. Some are well known brands and others are obscure. Bruce showed many beautiful vintage ads for these watches. Many of these watches are highly collectable, high quality, and available at reasonable prices. The talk was followed by enthusiastic questions and answers.

Further educational talks planned for 2020 are:
March – Danno Watch Tools
May – Mike Dempsey watch and clock making tools demonstration.
September – Craig White Strasbourg Astronomical Clock
November – ?????

Thanks,
Craig and Harry

NAWCC Board President Richard Newman will be giving the Educational Lecture, the subject will be on Watch Papers. For those of you who don’t know, Watch Papers were advertising papers that early watchmakers would put in the outer case of a pair cased watch, and you can learn a lot of valuable information from these little advertising pieces.

Also of interest to you horology buffs, The Antique Clock Repair class, formerly at WCTC, will be moving to Pewaukee for Spring 2020.

Thank you for your support last spring to keep the local clock repair
class going. Good news is that the Pewaukee Parks and Recreation
Department is taking over hosting the class.

During Spring 2020, the class meets 12 weeks beginning the first week of
February, the listed Fee is $230 to $240.  For more information, and class registration, go to pewaukee.activityreg.com or contact the Pewaukee Parks and Recreation
Department at (262) 691-7275.

The last of program for the year will be by Bill Galinski.  He will make a presentation on the restoration of Mike Dempsey’s cuckoo clock  we have been watching over the last couple of years.  If you remember this is the clock he has demonstrated carving and finishing a while back.

The board has reviewed our finances for the upcoming 2017 calendar year, and we are anticipating a monetary short fall.  Our expenses are very few, Norway House rental, insurance, coffee, fruit and donuts.  After much discussion we came up with 2 alternatives as follows:

• Raise dues from $20 to $25 per year
• Eliminate the “free” donuts

Either option should balance our chapter’s budget in 2017.  Please let Craig White know your individual thoughts (NAWCC.Chapter47@gmail.com) on which option you would prefer, or let our Treasurer, DannO know at the door at next meeting.

Our Secretary Ed Buc was interviewed on radio station WUWM for a segment they did on a local clock tower. Hear the story here. Read more on this clock tower in Ed’s Spot a Clock article on this clock tower.

The November meeting will also be the time that officers and directors election will be held.  This election occurs every 2 years.  Please contact Mike Dempsey of the election committee if you are interested in helping out running the chapter.  Officer’s roles are President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.   The director’s duties are primary in attending short meetings following some of normal chapter meetings.

Our next meeting is on September 18th, 2016 at the Norway House. Please see the Events page for times.

For the Educational Program Craig White will be showing some home videos that the late Don Brown made back in 2006 of some of his clocks and watches. As many of you know he had a great collection as well as a vast knowledge of horology. So join us for a visit to Don’s collection.

Show and Tell—Anything you would like to talk about!

Visit the Newsletter page for the most recent newsletter.

There will be a board meeting following the education presentation to discuss the future of the Midwest regional and other items.

Don Brown, past president of Chapter 47, died on October 5, 2015. You can read is obituary online via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and leave condolence notes as well.

Don was a longtime chapter member, and always had interesting stories to tell about his clocks.

Our next mart is November 16th, 2014.

The education talk for November will be on Timing Machines given by Mike Dempsey.

Hope to see you there.

For more information on Chapter 47’s Marts please check out the Events page.