Queensland Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc.
Watch this page for up-dates and a summary of our monthly Club activities.
Check out the new posts on Snapshots - NZ has 4 on Dunedin - Otago University, Railway Station, Arthur Barnett and the NE Post Office. On 'Car Clocks' - a look at how Jaeger car clocks turned British.
Next Meeting - October 17 General Meeting - the topic for this Meet is 'Anything and Everything Bakelite'. The focus will be on Bakelite clocks and watches, but members are encouraged to bring along anything Bakelite to enhance this theme. A test will be available for those who are not sure whether their item is indeed Bakelite. The Meeting will be co-led by our President Linda and Trev H. Show and Tell contributions are also welcome on anything horological. Potential new members are most welcome and free to come along without pressure to join. Coffee and tea provided. The club room opens at 9am for those who want assistance to work on their watch or clock. We aim to have someone there to assist. Remember the new time for the start of the main Meet is 10.30. You are welcome to enjoy lunch in the shaded outdoor area when the meeting concludes.
September Meet - 400 Day or Anniversary Clocks
These clocks are of great interest for their ability to run for over a year. Graeme P took us through their development stages giving us new insights into the great variety produced and how they worked. Thanks Graeme for your thoughts. The display of these clocks was also most impressive.
Show & Tell again was well supported with the highlight being a fascinating 1860's Achille Brocot clock brought in by John L, boasting 5 main springs enabling it to run for a year.
Another beautifully crafted clock for Show & Tell, made by James Davies C1840.
Eric R brought in his latest 'invention', a 3D clock designed to work from a magnet.
August Meet - Seiko Watches
A great turnout for this meeting. The support from members who brought along their Seiko watches was also most pleasing. Tony M gave us a description and judgement on a variety of Seiko watches to an appreciative audience. Thanks Tony. Show & Tell was also well supported with topics on beat machines, the watch roundabout in Portugal, the Olympic clock in Brisbane, bluing of hands for a carriage clock and a display of historical papers. Two new members signed up and the 10.30 start proved successful and so will remain for the future dates.
July Meet - Auction
Once again the highly anticipated auction proved to be most successful. Treasures were to be found as well as quality items. A big thanks to all who helped set up the auction and to Linda our auctioneer who handled the vigorous bidding.
June Meet - Clockwork Toys
An excellent turnout for this Meet - a chance to relive childhood memories. A big thanks to members who brought along a wind-up toy. The variety kept us all entertained. Tony R presented a mystery structure that had us all guessing. It turned out to be a tide guage clock near Port Pirie SA. The skills class also 'wound up' with their final lesson - reassembling an Enfield clock.
May Meet - Workshop on Stop Work Mechanisms
Jeff M our pocket watch expert, explained to the members the importance of this mechanism, and how it works, revealing that many repairers also fail to understand its purpose & so remove it. Simply put it restricts the mainspring torque by clipping off the top & bottom turns of a full wind. Thanks Jeff for explaining to us this relatively unknown/understood mechanism. The Skills classes third session continued with Alex H demonstrating how to carry out bushing. Linda also informed us of the QAWCC display in the Carindale Library. Here we have put together three cabinets of clocks & watches - you are welcome to go & inspect.
April GM Meet - Irish Museum of Time
A pleasing turnout for the Easter holidays. The theme - clocks & watches found in museums was most interesting with members contributing snaps from Redlands Coast Museum, Rockhampton's Heritage Museum, Matsumoto Museum in Japan, Lands & Survey Museum in Brisbane & an astronomical clock from Furtwangen Museum, Germany.
Graeme displayed & described his work on two unique torsion clocks. Robert then took us through a tour of the Irish Museum of Time in Waterford Ireland.
March Meet - Workshop on the art of Spelter work
This Meet indeed lived up to all expectations. Graeme's explanation of spelter work showing his finished projects & the demonstration at the end was well-received. 5 club members started their introduction to the basics of clocks at 10am - a 4 week crash course on clocks. Several members contributed to Show & Tell - three mini grandfather cases housing a pocket watch each, some flick clocks, some clock repair work & a Smiths braille clock from St. Dunstan's - more information on this is posted on Snapshots, on "Did You Know', see https://www.queenslandclocksandwatches.com/didyouknow - all contributed to a most successful Meet.
February Meet - AGM
As Allan our President of 11 years has retired, a new President was elected. The club welcomes Linda Michie to this role. The AGM also elected a new Librarian & Vice-president. We are in good hands & looking forward to a productive year. Show & Tell was again featured with many participants involved. A focus was a look at the Vienna Museum's clocks & watches. Thanks to Peter for this.
January Meet - the 3 Part Plate Support System
Great start to the year with 40 in attendance. Graeme had a most interesting Show & Tell on a rare cuckoo clock he had repaired. The main presentation looked at clocks that have 3 plates allowing easy access to the movement. Trev H covered a small German clock made by J A Sural while Paul F discussed French ODO clocks that were commonly found in Vietnam. We also listened to an unusual chime created for them - the 'Guy Carillon'. 2 new members were welcomed while Christmas & New Year activities were keenly recalled.
