2007 Programme :: St. Albans Clock Club

Programme 2007

Programme Archive: 2008 | 2007 | 2006

8th January	BRING & DISCUSS A general interest evening when members are asked to bring any interesting clocks or watches to show and discuss.
5th February	Club Evening - The intended meeting has now been re-scheduled for November.
5th March	WILLAM WRIGHT LONDINI FECIT The restoration of a an early bracket clock. David Rawlings. When he was asked to restore the movement of an early bracket clock David was enthusiastic, but this was before he realised that the pull repeat action was unique. Over a period he worked out how it had operated and reconstructed the mechanism. This required a lot of detective work and some trial and error! David is going to explain what he did and how he did it with the aid of an extensive set of slides.
2nd April	COMTOISE CLOCKS Dr Rees Pryce Dr Rees Pryce was, before retiring, a University lecturer. He was the major author of 'Samuel Roberts clock maker: an eighteenth century craftsman in a welsh rural community' published in 1985. He has, for many years, been interested in Comtoise clocks, has visited the French Comte and has lectured widely on the subject. Members are invited to bring examples of Comtoise clocks to the meeting.
7th - 14th May	STUDY TOUR - CLOCKMAKING IN HOLLAND This is now fully subscribed.
21st May	ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The AGM will be followed by a demonstration of the photography of clocks and watches.
4th June	WORKSHOP - 20TH CENTURY ENGLISH CLOCKS You may recall that in March last year we held our first workshop on this subject where discussion encompassed Smiths and the Enfield Clock Co. (introduced by Simon Manley-Cooper), British United Clock Co., Williamsons, and Perivale. This year the aim is to extend our knowledge by discussing the extensive network of small companies which were consolidated and the way in which this left the clock making industry after the war. We hope that it will also be possible to re-consider the Smiths Enfield story. Members are invited to bring information and exhibits to enliven the meeting.
2nd July	RESTORING A DOUBLE FUSEE DIAL CLOCK Sid Lines. Early in 2006 we all enjoyed Sid's presentation on the repair and re-finishing of marble clock cases. At this meeting Sid, an experienced horologist, will be discussing the repair, which he undertook, of a double fusee dial clock. Sid is a great enthusiast who speaks in a relaxed and interesting way based on his great experience as a practical horologist.
14th July	GARDEN PARTY
6th August	WORKSHOP - BLACK MARBLE CLOCKS Club member, Bill Wolmuth will introduce the evening by showing some interesting French marble clocks which will be followed by the discussion of any clocks brought in by members.
3rd September	THE RESTORATION OF A BIEDERMEIER CUCKOO CLOCK and other cuckoo matters! John Glanville. John, a club member, bought a decrepit cuckoo clock on Ebay. It was of Biedermeier design with an enamel dial and porcelain columns and dated from about 1870. He will describe the restoration undertaken which included re-covering the cuckoo pipes and re-leathering bellows, cleaning and repairing the wooden plated movement, making a new pendulum and repairing the case. Members are invited to bring black forest clocks for discussion.
1st October	HOROLICAL ENGRAVING (Replacing Paul Buck on 'Black Forest Clocks'. Paul will be coming next year.) Rex Cooper Mr Cooper is a professional engraver and he will be talking about his work, showing some examples and to giving a practical demonstration.
12th November	(Unfortunately Mr Legg who was going to talk to us about Buckinghamshire Clocks is ill and will not be able to come. We send him our very best wishes.) MADE IN ENGLAND who made those unsigned 20th century clocks We will, therefore, be holding a club evening on the subject of ‘Made in England’ clocks. That vast body of mid twentieth century clocks on which no manufacturers name was shown. This was done to satisfy the ego and commercial requirements of the retailer. All makers advertised their clocks with movements signed or unsigned and, in most cases, offered to write the retailers name on the dial free of charge. The identification of these movements is often quite difficult but all the makers from Elliott to Enfield produced them. We aim to unravle the mystery on the basis our members experience and recent unreported research undertaken by Club members. This has enabled some early Elliott, U.K.Clock Co., Williamson, Enfield, Perivale and Daval movements to be identified, but there are still many gaps. So, please bring any unsigned English 20th century clocks so that we can make further progress with this most interesting subject.
3rd December	AUCTION