The Mainspring – May 2018

Contents

President’s Message ....................... 1 Horological tributes ........................ 2 Annual Meeting Summary .............. 3 April Program Recap ....................... 3 Upcoming Events ............................ 4

2018 dates

May 6th 6:00 p.m. – NAWCC Webinar Presenter – Pat Holloway

May 19th 10 a.m. – noon: Pok-e-Jo’s on Parmer Program – Power in the Clock Train Dulen Lee

June 10th 6:00 p.m. – NAWCC Webinar Presenter – Tom McIntyre

June 16th 10 a.m. – noon: Pok-e-Jo’s on Parmer Program – Bring your favorite horological item

July 19th – 21st 2018 National Convention - York PA

July 28th 10 a.m. – noon: Pok-e-Jo’s on Parmer Program – Neoclassic Clock Comparison Pat Holloway

August 23rd – 25th All Texas Chapters Regional Westchase Marriott Houston, TX

Current Board Members President – Jay Holloway President@nawcc-chapter15.org

Vice-President – Gary Sertich VicePresident@nawcc-chapter15.org

Treasurer – open Treasurer@nawcc-chapter15.org

Secretary – Pat Holloway Secretary@nawcc-chapter15.org

Director of Programs – Dulen Lee Programs@nawcc-chapter15.org

President’s Message

Welcome to all our Members and Friends of Chapter 15,

May is a month with many changes. Colleges are finishing their semester, public schools will be wrapping up their terms to end shortly after the end of May, workers are planning their summer vacations, and we continue to have great meetings.

Greg Cook with the assistance of his wife Elizabeth, presented an enlightening program on ATO clocks and their history. It is so interesting that our members have varied interests and that they are willing to share their knowledge with us for programs. Let me encourage others to consider a program. We are open to 15-minute programs too. There are others who could present a short program, and that would make up a full meeting.

We want to remind our members that the National Convention in York PA is coming up in July and now is the time to enter the Crafts Contest. We also have multiple regional meetings coming up that are fun to attend and have good programs with lots of clocks and watches. The closest regionals are Houston (August), OKC (October), and New Orleans (November).

On a very positive note we want to recognize Harold Peter from Waco, TX who comes to our monthly meetings and participates with his knowledge and wisdom. Harold has recorded his 40th year with the NAWCC. We want to thank our members who have built our organization.

With sadness last month we approved sending a donation in the name of our past member Craig Jennings for the “For All Time” endowment. Again, this month, with sadness the Chapter directors approved sending another donation in the name of our Treasurer Don White who suddenly passed. Both have been steady members who attend the monthly meetings and provided insight to the group. They will be missed and we are looking for our current members to step forward and fill in the void.

The May meeting will be on the 19th and we encourage all to attend and bring a friend. Dulen Lee will be giving a presentation on “Power in a Clock Gear Train.”

Best regards,

Jay Holloway, President Chapter 15

Remember to register For the NAWCC National Convention

See the online Schedule for Convention dates and times

The Mainspring – May 2018 – Page 2

Horological tributes - The prima donnas: Adelina Patti, Annie Louise Carey and Etelka Gerster

In 1879, Solomon Spring of Welch, Spring & Co designed a beautiful, elegant, new clock case. With a new trade catalog coming out shortly, they needed to finalize a name for this clock. This was a very active time for the opera, with the prima donnas, or first ladies of the opera who sang the title roles, competing. The supreme prima donna of this time was Spanish-born Adelina Patti who had debuted in New York in 1959. By 1879, she was the first lady of opera and “no one could rival the beauty, purity, and sweetness of her singing.” Who better to honor by naming a magnificent clock Patti? This also followed the company’s two-year tradition of naming their clocks after noted people in the musical field.

In addition to the gorgeous case, this clock included a special movement; an ornamental brass bob with sandwich glass center; gold leaf border around the glass; black labels with gold print; black flocked paper inside on the backboard and French style hands. There was even a Patti No. 2, V.P. which has come to be known as the Baby Patti. The second new case style, which had the same ornamental columns and many of the same features as the Patti, honored an American-born singer, Annie Louise Cary. In 1866, at the age of 24, Annie went to Italy to study opera. After singing in cities around the world, she returned to America for the 1877-78 and 1878-79 seasons. This timing coincided with the debut of the clock named in her honor. The Cary was 20” high while the Patti was 18 ½” and the Baby Patti, built on a 2:3 ratio (except for the columns that were 2 inches shorter than 2:3 ratio) was 10 ¼” high. The third new case style that debuted the same year was the Gerster, named in honor of Hungarian-born Etelka Gerster. Gerster debuted in Italy in 1876. In 1878, she too was performing in America where she was considered one of the leading singers of the day. Once again, the timing was perfect for her selection as the third prima donna to be honored by Welch, Spring & Co. The Gerster case style and features are very similar to the Patti case. The exception is the top style which has earned this clock the nickname of “the Patti with the fence on top.” Like the Patti, the Gerster is 18 ½” high. All three clocks originally sold for $15 each. However, the Patti could also be purchased with an alarm for $1 more and a cathedral gong for an extra $0.60. To learn more about these wonderful clocks, you can read the February 1978 NAWCC Supplement #12 – The Welch, Spring and Company by Owen H. Burt and Jo Burt. If you would rather watch a video, you can log on the NAWCC website and watch video #927 E.N. Welch Opera Series Clocks: 1868-1893 by Robert W. Briggs

Pictured below from left to right are the Patti, Baby Patti, Cary and Gerster. You can see other examples and descriptions by searching the NAWCC Museum Collection where you will also

find these examples.

The Mainspring – May 2018 – Page 3

Annual Meeting Summary During the annual meeting, Jay Holloway called the meeting to order at 10:17 a.m. and Pat Holloway read the 2017 minutes. The minutes were approved as read.

This was followed by a brief update of the past year. During the update, Jay also asked for program and workshop sessions for the next year. Suggestions were a meeting where troubleshooting could be provided for attendees’ clocks, a “progressive” meeting to view different members’ collections and meetings at peoples’ homes were also suggested. Workshops included use of the jeweler’s lathe, a session on micro-lathes such as Sherline or Unimat, proper staking techniques and uses, soldering and removing old solder.

Don White gave the Treasurer’s Report which was approved as read. New Business: Gary Sertich moved to combine the Regional and Operating accounts. This motion was seconded

and approved. Gary Sertich also moved to donate $200 to the NAWCC For All Time campaign in honor of Craig Jennings. The motion was seconded and approved before the meeting ended and the monthly program was presented.

April Program Recap At our April meeting, Greg Cook gave a very interesting program on Leon Hatot and ATO clocks. Leon Hatot

(1883-1953) was a French watchmaker and jeweler. From 1895-1898, he attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts and then the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Besancon. From there, he turned to artistic engraving of clocks, jewelry and cases made of precious metals. Hatot had a varied career and legacy as a jeweler, researcher, designer and developer.

When he decided to develop clocks, he worked with Marius Lavet, an engineer who had developed the Bulle electric clock. Electric power to homes was becoming more common. The power supply was not totally reliable, so he was part of the push to develop battery powered clocks. He also started a separate division for research and development of clocks and watches powered by electric cells and combined his companies under the name “Societe des Etablissements Leon Hatot.” This was the same year that the ATO trademark appeared. (ATO is pronounced the same as Hatot.) Although Bulle clocks and ATO clocks are very similar, there are several differences that are outlined in a June 2003 Bulletin article: “The ATO Clock” by Mel Kaye (pp 333-347). In 1924, ATO produced four different models. By 1926 there were 13, and by 1929 over 50 models.

In 1929, Hatot invented the automatic winding watch “ROLLS” in which the movement is wound by the motion of the movement moving inside the case. In 1930, he sold exclusive rights to Blancpain, that is now part of the Swatch group of companies. Early in the business, Hatot provided movements to Lalique who made beautiful, art glass cases for the clocks. Through the years, Hatot’s company partnered in clock manufacturing with Hamburg American Clock Co HAU, Haller and Junghans. Although not as popular in the US as in France and other European countries, their movements are very accurate and reliable. Because they are susceptible to dirt on the contacts, it is best to keep them running.

Greg brought several examples of ATO clocks to show, including a beautiful, small Lalique example. The presentation was highlighted by an ATO clock door prize donated by Greg and Elizabeth. Jay Holloway was the lucky winner.

A few of Greg and Elizabeth’s ATO clocks

Newsletter Editor NAWCC Chapter 15 1105 Lafayette Lane Pflugerville TX 78660

Upcoming Events May 6th – NAWCC webinar – 6 p.m.

Pat Holloway will be the speaker for May’s webinar presentation on “Collecting Horological Collateral.” Pat will be talking about horological “go-withs” that can make very interesting collections. https://net.nawcc.org/NAWCC/Events/NAWCC%20Webinars.aspx May 19th – Chapter 15 Program

Dulen Lee will give a presentation on “Power in a Clock Train.” There are many reasons that a clock won’t run and many of them are related to loss of power somewhere in the gear train. Plan to join us to learn more about what to look for. June 10th – NAWCC webinar – 6 p.m.

Tom McIntyre will be speaking on “The Dennison Orphans.” Stay tuned for additional details on this program about Aaron Dennison.

June 16th – Chapter 15 Program Everyone – Bring your favorite horological item July 28th – Chapter 15 Program

Pat Holloway – “Neoclassical Clocks from the Biedermeier, Empire, Regency and Federal periods.” There was an overlap in the timing of these four periods in four areas of the world, yet many of the clocks don’t seem to have any overlap. This presentation will give a high-level overview of the timing, social and political happenings and general clock styles from this time.

Treasurer’s Report Chapter Account Exp Donation For All Time Campaign In memory of Craig Jennings Closing Balance

$8,030.97

200.00 $7,830.97

Regional Account $2,813.60