We say good-bye to a dear friend. Darrell Camp died April 19, 2006. He was a retired Master Sergeant in the US Air Force and a retired manager in the Bio Medical Service Industry. To us he was a friend interested in clocks. Darrell was instrumental in acquiring our current meeting facility, as well as the Depot, before the Aquatic center was built. He and Anne also brought our refreshments for several years. Darrell always wore a smile. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society; 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 260; Duluth, GA 30097
It was a beautiful spring morning. The meeting started with an exciting auction. “When they pause, they won’t bid again.” That’s what Brooks Coleman said during furious bidding. Many clocks and watches were on display, including a beautiful piece of reverse painted glass by chapter member, Rick Mangum.
Ed Ueberall, co-author of the Bulletin’s “Railroaders’ Corner,” was our guest speaker. Ed is also celebrating his 30th anniversary as a member of NAWCC. His topic was on non-American watches used in North American railroad time service. Ed explained how the earliest railroads in the U.S. depended upon English watches until the domestic watch industry was able to meet the needs. He then discussed the Swiss, and some German, watches of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century that were used in the U.S. and Canada. Ed’s talk then progressed to the post-WWII period when Swiss watches were used in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Ed’s presentation was enhanced by slides showing documentation and the watch movements and dials. The proceedings were further enhanced by the watches themselves, of which 36 were on display.
In concert with Ed Ueberall’s topic, the Watch Focus Group had a wide variety of Swiss-made railroad watches also on display. Members showed off examples made by Gallet (privately labeled for Canada’s T. Eaton Co.), Longines, Omega, Agassiz and Vacheron & Constantin. John Cheves again provided a wristwatch display box for members to use in showing off examples of their collections. We all appreciate John's efforts to encourage participation by those members interested in wristwatches. The value of his work can best be judged by the increasing number of those timepieces that show up at the meetings.
Quite a variety of clocks were for sale at the Mart, as can be seen from the picture below. There was something for just about everyone.
