The First NAWCC Headquarters and Museum

The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) is an American non-profit organization. It is the largest horological organization of its kind, seeking to encourage and stimulate interest in the art and science of timekeeping. Founded in 1943 by members of the Horological Society of New York and the Philadelphia Watchmakers’ Guild this non-profit organization has grown from 52 Charter Members to an international organization with over 23,000 members and 173 Chapters.

Members include hobbyists, students, collectors, educators, and experts in the retail and manufacturing trade. With benefits such as bi-yearly publications, regional and national conventions, and workshops/seminars which are held throughout the nation.

The chapters provide camaraderie, learning opportunities, an opportunity to meet people to buy and sell, and to support their common interest. There are also special interest chapters that meet a few times a year, provide newsletters and individual support to its members with special interests in horology.

In 1971 NAWCC formed a Museum Committee to solicit donations. Then in 1977 founded the Nation Watch and Clock Museum which has a major horological collection and  one of the world’s pre-eminent horological libraries. Museum, library (National Watch and Clock Library) and headquarters are located in Columbia, Pa. The NAWCC also runs a School of Horology, where watch and clock repairers are trained.

If you enjoy horology you may want to consider membership in the world’s largest organization devoted to timekeeping and timepieces.

A PHOTO OF THE CURRENT DAY NAWCC MUSEUM
By: John B. Holbrook, II
10/30/09

The decorations have come down after the holidays and the rooms have the appearance of looking empty.  Why not put some life back into those rooms by investing in some home decorating.  Decorating your Home can be a very personal and creative experience. There are a variety of things that can be done to make an immediate impact on the interior of your home without spending a lot of money; you can get some great ideas found in the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Gallery. Or if you are not on a budget you could have an interior decorator assist you. Whichever way you chose there are plenty of ideas to decorate your home.  From ultra modern, contemporary or the cottage looks with beams and home-crafted cushions. Home decorating ideas are really a matter of personal preference, life style and the kind of home you have.

You can change the position of your furniture, if it is against a wall pull it out or place it on an angle.  Add some character by placing a piece of art work on a wall. That artwork can be a design painted on a portion of a wall, a sculpture, a painting, a picture, or even a wall clock hung in the precise location.  Plants will also liven up any home decorating ideas - they come in a multitude of styles and sizes and are readily available from garden centers.

In a house everything should be kept in its proper place. For example a big mirror in drawing room will look odd while placing it in your bedroom or bathroom it would look appropriate. It is not only the looks but also utility that will be affected. Just keep in mind there are a variety of things to choose from and consider the effect you would like.

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Decorating with wall clocks

An Antique clock is a time teller of experiences from the past. Its majestic appearance from long past has survived the trials of its own time to tell the stories of its history. Today like many other arts and traditions, antique clocks give us a glimpse of our past. Antique clocks are highly-priced not only for their age and uniqueness, but because of the stories they carry.

The majority of clocks that were made from the 15th to the middle of the 17th century are now in museums and a small percentage in different individuals’ private collections. Some antique clocks from the mid 1600s still exist and are worth well over $70,000. The very rare models are worth over $100,000.

Antique wall clocks were the first type of time pieces that were designed and produced in mass quantities for home use during the 1800′s through the early 1900′s  It is one of the more popular and largest categories of antiques

Finding an antique clock for sale is one thing, they are often at flea markets, estate sales, local auctions, newspaper ads, and sometimes at online auction sites. But correctly estimating its value and then being able to buy it is another. You need to be careful to avoid buying a replica by mistake. To be certain of a clock’s authenticity, you should only buy from a trusted, reputable seller or have the clock appraised before purchasing.

As long as you are careful and patient when buying an antique clock you’ll be able to find what you are looking for at a fair price. Don’t rush into buying a clock unless you’re absolutely sure it’s the right one for you, it is an investment in owning an heirloom that can be pasted down for generations.

An Anniversary clock is a torsion pendulum clock. A torsion clock is a mechanical clock that keeps time with a torsion pendulum.  This is a weighted disk or wheel with 3 or 4 balls on omate spokes haning by a thin wire called a torsion spring. The torsion pendulum rotates on the wire, twisting it. This twisting force reverses the direction of rotation, so the torsion pendulum oscillates slowly, clockwise and counterclockwise. This allows the clock’s gears to apply a pulse of torque to the top of the torsion spring during each rotation allowing the wheel to keep moving.  .

Torsion clocks will run much longer between windings than clocks with an ordinary pendulums because the torsion pendulum rotates slowly and takes little energy. But they are not as accurate as clocks with ordinary pendulums. A major reason for this is that the oscillation period of the torsion pendulum changes with temperature because of the temperature-dependent change in elasticity of the spring.  Clocks of this style were first made by Anton Harder around 1880 and were known as 400-day or anniversary clocks, due to the fact that many of them only have to be wound once a year. From the 1880’s until 1951 the torsion clock remained a poor time keeping clock, then a gentlemen named Charles Terwilliger of the Horolovar Co. invented a temperature compensating suspension spring, which allowed for a much more accurate clock. If the clock needs to  be adjusted to run faster or slower it can be done by an adjustment screw on the torsion pendulum that moves the weight balls in or out.  The closer in the balls are, the smaller the moment of inertia of the torsion pendulum and the faster it will turn.

Anniversary Clocks (torsion clocks) are usually delicate and ornamental. Most of these clocks have a polished chrome or gold colored mechanism that is exposed under a glass dome. This allows you to watch the pendulum turn.

When purchasing an anniversary clock be sure to purchase a high quality clock such as one made by Loricron Clocks. Loricron has been producing clocks for a long time and has great reputation for quality. The price will be higher than a bargain clock, but you will be assured that you are getting a clock that will be a keepsake for your family for many years.