Presidents Message
Masks will be required to reduce everyone’s risk on COVID-19.  Please continue to be considerate of others and wear a mask covering your nose and mouth.  Thank you for your help in this.

I hope you had some fun learning about lost wax casting clock case parts.  I had fun learning about how to do what has been done for 6000 years.  Luckily I am persistent, because even with our modern tools I had some learning to do before successfully making some brass castings for clock cases.  The adventure is half of the fun though.  The other half is telling about how big the fish was that got away

We still need a volunteers for a talk and/or demonstration for December 2022.  Please contact Harry Schultz or myself with ideas or suggestions.  

Free tables!!  A free silent auction table will also be available.

Educational Talks Scheduled:
March’s talk will be given by Craig White.  Title – “Tools – What I did During COVID”.     Many short different ideas will be presented from vacuum hoses, thread cutting, Argon back filling of varnish and many more.  Talk will be a power point slide show.   Some are bound to be of interest to most of you.  During long periods of confinement to my shop in the basement I came up with many new tools and concepts to use.  Come see what is new in the White shop.

May’s talk will be on Old and Unique Pocket Watches by Mike Dempsey.  I am sure very few of you have ever seen watches like these.  Photographs and descriptions will be shown in a PowerPoint format.  Sure to be very interesting even if you are not a watch collector.

Bill Galinsky will demonstrate making clock hands November 13

Hope to see you all there. 

Thanks,
Craig

President’s Message

Masks will be required to reduce everyone’s risk on COVID-19.  Please be considerate of others and wear a mask covering your nose and mouth.   Thank you for your help in this.

I hope you all enjoyed the best talk and demonstration of the 2020’s.  This one was special with great introduction and a chance to see some old tools in action that I am sure most of you have not seen before.  Thanks Mike and Danno. Danno showed many photos of horological tools from the 17th, 18th and 19^th century and the toolmaking industry that made them.

So, we had 39 people attend this mart, 4 new members joined, which is  awesome.  We had 7 guests, 5 of which was their first time here, and at least one said he was going to join in January.

We need volunteers for talks and/or demonstrations for 2022.  Please contact Harry Schultz or myself with ideas or suggestions.  Bill Galinsky will demonstrate making clock hands November 13.

Free tables!!  A free silent auction table will also be available.  We received $110 in donations from sales at the silent auction table at the November meeting.

January talk will be on Lost Wax Process to Cast Brass Clock Case Parts by Craig White.  I have step by step instructions on how I cast parts.

Hope to see you all there.

Thanks, Craig

 Horological Trivia and Tidbits

Many of us have shelves of horological books, but how often do we use them?  Each issue we will feature a repair tip or historical tidbit taken from a common reference book. 

From Abbott’s American Watchmaker and Jeweler by Henry G. Abbott on Galileo:

A celebrated mathematician, born 1564, who discovered the use of the pendulum.  It is related that one morning he was in church and saw a lamp which was suspended by a silken cord from the ceiling, swinging to and fro after having been carelessly struck by one of the attendants.  He noticed  the regularity of the swing, comparing it with his pulse, and concluded that, by reason of its regularity, a simple pendulum might become a valuable agent in the measurement of time.

Presidents Message,
Hope everyone enjoyed the well-made video on the amazing Strasbourg clock.
Masks will be required to reduce everyone’s risk on COVID-19.  Please be considerate of others and wear a mask covering your nose and mouth.  Thank you for your help in this.

Come for the best talk and demonstration of the 2020’s.  This one will be special with great introduction and a chance to see some old tools in action that I am sure most of you have not seen before.
Danno will be taking a brief look at 18th and 19th Century horological tools and the tool making industry that made them.
There will also be a display of early tools and Mike Dempsey will be giving hands on demonstrations of how they work during the mart.

Ed Buc is stepping down from his secretary position which he has helped us for the last 10+ years.  Thanks you Ed for all your work!
Karyn Critelli has volunteered to take on the secretary, position.  Thanks Karyn for your help.

See 2022 dates for our meetings, no conflicts with Chicago chapter 3 so all should be able to attend.
September meeting had 21 people attend, a good start after a long pause in meeting.The chapter had received a tool donation and got donations for the tools for a total of $390. Free tables!!  A free silent auction table will also be available.

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. 

Thanks,

Craig

September 2021 Presidents Message,
Well, it is time for us to restart our chapter 47 meetings beginning on September 12 at the South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus.  Let’s start with a large mart.  Bring all those items that have been collecting dust waiting for us to restart or bring lots of money to buy clocks, watches and tools you have been yearning for.  

Masks will be required to reduce everyone’s risk on COVID-19.  Please be considerate of others and wear a mask covering your nose and mouth.  Thank you for your help in this.

We have been given a donation from the family of Lewis Wienske of 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.
Free tables!!  A free silent auction table will also be available.

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

Congratulations to Ralph Ferone for receiving the NAWCC Fellow award.  Well-earned and deserving. Thanks Ralph for all you do!

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. 
Thanks,
Craig

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.