|
“Welcome to Maine, the way life should be!” Fifty-four members and guests arrived at
the Offshore Restaurant in Rockland, Maine. That last 100 feet across the whitecaps tickled our toes, but
we made it. It was nice to be in a
warm dining area.
Newcomers aren’t strangers for long, for Chapter 89 is
known for good hospitality.
Everyone had an opportunity to ponder over the growing display of
Show ‘N’ Tell items, and we all enjoyed the breathtaking view of Maine’s
rocky coastline.
The 154th meeting and 35th year
of Maine Chapter 89 got underway at 11:00 a.m. with some NEW faces in the
crowd. During the Welcome Hour, we
caught up on the latest news.
The Business Meeting started around 1:00 PM, led by
President Dennis Hillman. He
welcomed members and guests during his opening introduction and asked for
folks to make a “self introduction”.
OLD BUSINESS: After a witty salutation, "Gadies and Lentlemen, Goys and
Birls", Assistant Secretary Jim Bryant read the Minutes of the
Meeting for our January 2004 meeting.
Treasurer Jim Powers rendered his report to close out 2003. The membership accepted both
reports.
NEW BUSINESS:
A
NOTE OF SADNESS:
President Dennis Hillman announced the sad news of the passing of
former member Harry Snow of West Bath.
Harry had been an active member of Chapter 89 coming to us in 1993.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jim Bryant announced several Chapter 89
members would be participating in the upcoming AWI'S 44TH ANNUAL MEETING. Our Rick and Linda Balzer, James Moss
and George Collard will contribute to the program to be held in South
Portland, August 5th through the 8th, 2004
Looking
ahead: Our May 15, 2004 Meeting will be held at the Cascade Inn at
Saco, Maine. Our program agenda is
to be announced. Our July 17th
Lobster Fest Picnic will proceed as scheduled, again at the Rockport Boat
Club.
NEW
MEMBERS INDUCTED: President Dennis Hillman officiated in the induction of John
Hannington and Jim Donald. Chapter
89 membership gave them a hearty welcome.
show & tell: Jim Lea brought an English
Bracket clock equipped with a crown wheel escapement devised by John Hemel
(1670) as well as an A. S. Platt steeple clock boasting a beautiful fusee
movement (1868). He gave a brief
and interesting discussion of each clock.
Alex Cummings spoke
his Crosby & Vosburg 8 day Double Ogee. What is unusual is that it is an 8-day Ogee. The label stated (in small print)
“Crosby & Vosburg successor to the” (in large print) “Jerome
Manufacturing Co.” Alex shared
about the emergence of Crosby & Vorsburg, and how they bought the
“remains” of the Jerome Company.
Their address at the time enabled him to date the clock to 1857 or
1858. It was the Jerome name that
first attracted him to the clock, and he didn’t notice the Crosby &
Vosburg in small print until he examined it later. The second clock Alex brought was a 30
hour Ogee clock with a label printed "Forrestville Clock
Co". Alex inquired of the
membership if this was a rare label, since his other Ogee clock had
"Forrestville Mfg. Co" on the label.
David Smith spoke
about his Smith & Brothers 8 day cast iron back plate Ogee, rack and
snail strike, circa 1840, spring driven, with a Philadelphia address paper
in the case. It had a wooden dial.
John Hannington
brought along another Smith & Brothers 30 hour Ogee with a New York
label. It had a Jerome movement
with a wooden dial.
This is
diversity! Thanks everyone for
sharing.
Raffle drawing: Sam Ogilvie won the $20
first drawing, and Linda McConaughy won the $10 prize.
presentation: Dennis Hillman led off our
program “All You Wanted to Know About OG’s” by Earl McHugh. This interesting slide program was on
loan from NAWCC and described as:
“A brief history about Chauncey Jerome and his OG clocks. Shows some examples of clocks from the
collections of members of Chapter #13, comparing size & variety in the
OG style of clock.
Invitation: Come
join us at a future meeting. We’d
love to show you some Maine hospitality.
James Bryant, Chapter 89 Assistant-Secretary
Back to Home Page
|
