Bytown. Times. J. R. Armstrong

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1 Bytown Times Vol. 25, No.3, Sept. 25, 2005 ISSN Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Sunday September 25 at the Qualicum and Graham Park Community Centre on Esquimalt Avenue in Graham Park, commencing at 1:30 pm. (Doors open at 1:00 pm) This meeting starts a new season after our summer break and we would like it to be a good one. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our originally planned program item will have to be postponed, so we are featuring Show and Tell by members, with an emphasis on summer acquisitions. If you have acquired any new horological items during the summer, we would like to see and hear about them. Even if the items you have were not acquired during the summer, we would still like to hear about them - so bring them along. There will also be the usual Mart and Display Tables of course. Members are reminded that visitors are always welcome at our meetings, so if you know of anyone who may be interested or just curious about what we do, please bring them along. Note that the scheduled dates for our meetings to the end of 2006 are listed on page 6 of this issue. J. R. Armstrong It is with deep regret that we report the death of Jim Armstrong on August 30, Jim had been a member of our Chapter for several years, and his interest in, and knowledge of, watches and allied horology was highly valued. Jim was always an excellent source of information when members wished to evaluate or find a specific watch or other horological item, and he was always glad to help. Jim will be sadly missed and our condolences are extended to his family in their loss. The Bytown Times is published five times a year by the Ottawa Chapter 111, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. President: Maynard Dokken, 16 Brian Cres. Nepean, Ontario. K2H 6X3. Telephone (613) Vice President: Bill Pullen. Secretary: Ben Roberts. Treasurer: Charles Beddoe. Immediate Past President: Dan Hudon. Program Director: Allan Symons. Education and Workshop Chairman Dan Hudon Bytown Times Editor: Ben Roberts. Telephone (613) Address: benrobe@sympatico.ca The Chapter meets five times a year on the fourth Sunday of the months of Jan., March, May, Sept., and Nov., at 1:00 pm. Annual dues $16. Membership in the NAWCC is obligatory. Association dues: U.S. $55. Last Meeting The last meeting was held on Sunday May 29 at the Qualicum and Graham Park Community Centre in Graham Park. 40 members and 2 visitors attended. The meeting was preceded by a sale of movements, tools, and parts from past member Jack Goodmanʼs workshop. Jackʼs daughter conducted the sale which was quite successful with only a few items left unsold. President Maynard Dokken opened the meeting by welcoming three visitors, Paul Johnson, Céline Voyer, and Mel Nash. The meeting was devoted to Show and Tell: Wally Clemens showed some of his favourite items including a Westclocx Big Ben Alarm, a car clock which uses the carʼs electricity to wind its mechanical movement, and a small Bulova-made 24 hour watch originally used on the DEW Line to record the time on photographs of Radar screens. Georges Royer showed a German cuckoo clock ca. 1868, with London, England addresses on both the dial and label. John Ruhland showed a drill holder which, mounted in a drill press, permits the use of very fine drills by providing for very delicate control of the drill pressure. John also showed the restored dial of an old Quebec clock, together with a coloured xerox copy of the dial which he had made prior to the restoration work. Allan Symons showed a 30 hour Canadian Stinger cottage clock. It appears to have an American movement, but a Canadian label is inside the case. He also showed a Westclox catalogue which appears to be from , and a Westclox Salesmanʼs Wristwatch Case with space for 8 watches. Administration Items In September the City will start charging $5.35 per hour for use of the Community Centre. The annual charges will be about the same as our current voluntary contribution to the Community Association. The Chapter will subsidize the charges to be made for Dan Hudonʼs courses held at the Centre. Dan Hudon discussed his courses for The lathe course is completed and the course on Floating Balances will commence on June 2nd. Dates for the Clock Repair course have not yet been finalized The Chapter Picnic will be held at on Sunday July 10. Details and maps will be mailed out prior to the event. Peter Kushnir spoke about Montreal Chapter 187, and provided hand outs for the Horological Show and Mart to be held in Montreal on Sunday, October 2. We are always looking for people willing to make presentations at our meetings. Any subject with a horological theme is welcome. Presentations should be from 5 to 30 minutes in length. Ben Roberts spoke about the internet horology Chapter 185, and provided hand-outs with details.

2 Page 2 VOL. 25, No.3, Sept. 25, 2005 Seen at the Last Meeting The sale of horological items from Jack Goodmanʼs workshop, was conducted by his daughter Lorie Beaton (Seen in the below, talking with Georges Royer and Charles Beddoe.) Left: Patrick Bigras presents Dan Hudon with a card of thanks from all the participants i n D a n ʼs re c e n t w o r k s h o p o n l a t h e s. Left: John Ruhland shows the restored dial from his Quebec clock. Above: He demonstrates the drill holding tool which he made to permit the use of very fine drills in a drill press.

3 Vol. 25, No.3. Sept. 25, 2005 Page 3 Seen at the Last Meeting Cont. Allan Symons shows: Above: The Canadian Stinger shelf clock, with on the right, a Westclox catologue dating from about and a Westclox salesmanʼs wristwatch case. All thes e item s were acquired on ebay for dis play in Allanʼs Canadian Clock Mueum. Left: Ernie Boucher had watches and other horological parts for sale on the Mart Table. Georges Royer shows his German Cuckoo clock, ca which carries London, England addresses on both the dial and the label. Wally Clemens with some of his favourite items from his collection: Left: A large spring wound wall clock and Right a Westclox Big Ben alarm clock. Other items Wally showed included a car clock which uses the carʼs electricity to wind its mechanical spring, and a small 24 hour Bulova-made recording watch originally used on the DEW Line.,

4 Page 4 Vol. 25, No.3, Sept. 25, 2005 Chapter Picnic Another very successful Chapter Picnic was held at Teresa and Maynard Dokkenʼs Cottage on July 10. As Maynard has been suffering from some mobilty problems recently, Judy and Pete Graham organized this years event and we are very grateful for their efforts. Judy, together with Bev Needham, performed miracles on the Barbecue. Thank you both for a terrific job. Once again we thank both Teresa and Maynard for their hospitality and the use of their cottage. As usual the picnic was very much enjoyed by all, and again the auction was very successful and good fun. Gord & Molly Armstrong Allan Symons Bob & Pat Drysdale Left: Louise Beddoe and Iain MacDonald Right: Auctioneer Maynard Dokken. Left to Right; Bill Pullen, Allan Symons, Ben Roberts and Bill Westbrook Right: Bev and Russell Needham. Wally Clemens Bill Westbrook. Allan Symons and Bill Pullen.

5 Vol. 25, No.3, Sept. 25, 2005 Page 5 Chapter Picnic Cont. Our grateful thanks go to this years picnic organizers, Pete and Judy Graham Left: Mel Nash Right: Ivan Brazeau Dwight Dickerson and Wife ITEMS FOR SALE AND AUCTION Some auction items Reproduction clocks for sale A Russian Cuckoo Clock More Auction Items

6 Page 6 Vol. 25, No.3, Sept. 25, 2005 Chapter Meeting Dates We have applied for the following dates for our regular Chapter meetings at the Qualicum and Graham Park Community Association facilities through These dates have not yet been confirmed by the Community Association Sunday September 25, 2005 Sunday November 27, 2005 Sunday January 22, 2006 Sunday March 26, 2006 Sunday May 28, 2006 Sunday September 24, 2006 Sunday November 26, 2006 Erin Fox For the last two Chapter meetings Erin Fox has been acting as recording secretary, and each time this has proved to be a tremendous help in putting together the next issue of the Bytown Times. It is difficult to keep an accurate record of all that is going on at a meeting while at the same time attempting to obtain worthwhile pictures with appropriate details. Even if one can accomplish this efficiently, there remains the even more difficult task of remembering it all afterwards. This is where Erinʼs efforts have been so helpful, as I have had coherent written notes to rely on instead of an increasingly senile mind. Many, many thanks for the good work Erin, it is a tremendous help. Ben Roberts Greg Crockettʼs Visit Dan Hudonʼs September Course The clock repair course given by Dan Hudon started on Saturday September 10 at the Qualicum and Graham Park Community Centre, and will run on each subsequent Saturday until October 29. Class hours are from 8:00 AM to Noon. Those people who had previously registered with Dan for the course have all been contacted, but Dan has asked us to report that he would be willing to try to accommodate any latecomers who are seriously interested in attending the course, if they are willing to put in the effort to catch up with the others. Contact Dan at Wanted A Mr. Tom Cholowski (not a Chapter member) is about to attend a Railroad Conductorʼs training course and is interested in purchasing a railroad grade pocket watch with the following characteristics: Lever Set Montgomery Dial Minimum 21 Jewels Colour and quality of the case is not too important providing it is in a condition which meets his requirements. If you have such a watch and wish to sell it, please contact Tom directly at to discuss terms. During the weekend of August 7 and 8, Greg Crocket of the NAWCC Internet Horology Chapter 185 was on a visit to Ottawa from his home in Michigan. He had contacted us earlier, asking if he could possibly meet some of the Chapter 111 members, particularly those who were also members of Chapter 185. So arrangements were made to meet at Ben Roberts home on Sunday afternoon. Chapter 111 members Ben Roberts, Kevin West, Steve Ladanyi and President Maynard Dokken were all in attendance, and some 3 hours were spent in discussions and exchanges of ideas on many horological subjects. As well as being very knowledgeable with lots of practical experience in regard to watch repair etc. Greg is also an expert on Military Timepieces. He is the Host and Moderator of Chapter 185ʼs Military Timepiece Forum discussion group. His visit resulted in a most interesting afternoon of discussions and exchanges of ideas, and everyone enjoyed a very interesting and educational afternoon. The NAWCC Internet Horological Chapter 185 can be found on the internet at: If you care to take a look at the site you will find lots of very interesting discussions on a variety of horological subjects. There are many knowledgeable participants taking part in the discussions, and you will also find discussion and comments about our get-together on August 7. After viewing the Chapter 185 site, you may even consider paying the very reasonable sum of $13 to join the Chapter. Bytown Times Advertisements Are you looking for a horological item, or do you have one for sale? Members can have their ad. inserted in the Bytown Times at any time free of charge. Simply contact Ben Roberts. (Timing of insertions are subject to space being available in the next issue.)