27 Oct 2008, 01:40
The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors is the largest association of collectors in the United States. They sponsor a number of regional and national conferences, including a research meeting every year, the Ward Francillon Time Symposium. This is an event that brings together speakers and displays on different topics each year. The topic this year was early electric horology - and specifically the contributions of one company in the US, the Sangamo company that was located in Springfield IL. This company made electrically wound clocks that used the works of watches made by the Illinois Watch Company.
There were many lectures and collectors were invited to bring in their timepieces to show. There were hundreds of early electric clocks on display. I offered to bring a selection of my solar powered wrist watches and they agreed that this would be an interesting addition to the symposium.
I brought a few dozen of my most interesting solar watches from www.soluhr.com. Attached is a picture of the display. I will post another as well.
The centerpiece of the display was of course the Synchronar. I had a few examples and showed a working LED display to anyone who wanted to look. All the watches were in cases except the Synchronar which was displayed on solar powered turntable.
Even though this was primarily a clock event, there was great interest in the watches. No one there seemed to know about the Synchronar or that there were so many other digital and analog solar watches over the years.
The event was a good way to let the larger horology community know about the contribution of Roger Riehl.
I will be writing up a history of the solar watch for magazine of the NAWCC and hope to have an temporary exhibit someday at their national museum in Lancaster, PA.
Do other DWF people have suggestions for European or Asian clock and watch museums that might be interested in a hosting a traveling exhibit on the history of solar watches?
There were many lectures and collectors were invited to bring in their timepieces to show. There were hundreds of early electric clocks on display. I offered to bring a selection of my solar powered wrist watches and they agreed that this would be an interesting addition to the symposium.
I brought a few dozen of my most interesting solar watches from www.soluhr.com. Attached is a picture of the display. I will post another as well.
The centerpiece of the display was of course the Synchronar. I had a few examples and showed a working LED display to anyone who wanted to look. All the watches were in cases except the Synchronar which was displayed on solar powered turntable.
Even though this was primarily a clock event, there was great interest in the watches. No one there seemed to know about the Synchronar or that there were so many other digital and analog solar watches over the years.
The event was a good way to let the larger horology community know about the contribution of Roger Riehl.
I will be writing up a history of the solar watch for magazine of the NAWCC and hope to have an temporary exhibit someday at their national museum in Lancaster, PA.
Do other DWF people have suggestions for European or Asian clock and watch museums that might be interested in a hosting a traveling exhibit on the history of solar watches?