The December meeting of Chapter 24 of the NAWCC was held at Mountain Park Depot-Lilburn, GA on December 7, 2003. Doors opened at 10:00 AM.
The chapter continues to benefit from the encouragement to bring clocks and watches for show and sale. Thus, a significant increase of items in the mart and the auction, coupled with interesting horological pieces on display, has attracted renewed interest. We also benefited by the attendance of two guests from Michigan: Erwin Schmidt, and his wife, who set up two tables of wrist watches, pocket watches, clocks and accessories. Our resident auctioneer, Brooks Coleman, conducted a spirited auction of clocks and watches as well as parts and materials.
Insofar as this was the chapter Christmas Party, there was no business meeting. However, we did have a short program. George Waterhouse displayed a restored ca 1840 Birge and Mallory triple decker weight driven mantle clock. This clock was saved from a dumpster, literally, before he began restoration and now has been restored to its original appearance. Also, chapter member Rick Mangum displayed some very nicely done clock reverse-glass paintings which he had done himself.
A thumbnail history of the Illinois Watch Co. was given for the benefit of those not accustomed to viewing watches, the better to understand the topic of the Watch Focus Group - 18-size Illinois watches. The watch display included part of Bill Meinert's collection, including a Sears, Roebuck Special in a Sears, Roebuck case - including the case paper. In addition to a number of Bunn's Specials, a couple of 17-jewel Bunn's appeared. One of them had a two-tone ribbon damaskeen pattern. The Watch Focus Group's subject for the February meeting is decorated watches, and the April meeting's focus will be on ladies' size watches.
The chapter enjoyed a pot-luck buffet dinner consisting of platters of ham and turkey, with side dishes and desserts of every description. The members brought so much food that there were actually leftovers to be disposed of.