Curator's Chronicles Hello Clocktimers! June was a busy and exciting month. I travelled across the Atlantic to attend the NAWCC Convention affiliated with the NAWCC Museum which took place 19 – 22 June. In attendance were about a thousand horologists and collectors from across the USA and further afield. The convention achieved that wonderful kind of social alchemy you hope to experience at this type of event. The vibe was vibrant and inclusive and the community was truly focused on exchanging knowledge, opening the field to new perspectives and working towards exciting the next generation of horologists. I gave a joint lecture with Andrew Canter from the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, Total Immersion: Living the life of a horological apprentice in 17th, 18th and 19th century London. Andrew joined me by video link from London. We had a packed house and many questions. I also attended several standout lectures and events, including one by Keith Scobie-Youngs from the Cumbria Clock Company, From Man to Machine: The winding of the Great Clock of Westminster (Big Ben). Also, a film screening celebrating Bulova watches’ 150th birthday and Toronto-based Watchonista Editor Rhonda Richie’s lecture We Have Always Been Here: The unsung heroines of watchmaking. Additionally, I enjoyed a talk entitled Wooden Clockmaking in the 18th Century by Tom Vaughn, an outstanding young American horologist. Collector Richard Newman gave me a personal tour of the NAWCC Museum in Columbia PA. It has a very large collection of clocks and watches from the US, plus horological treasures from the UK, Europe and Japan. There was a special exhibition of early English watches, featuring an exceptional watch by Randolph Bull, Royal Clockmaker to Queen Elizabeth I. The NAWCC Convention is also known for its bustling mart, and there were over 900 tables showcasing organisations, collections and the wares of watch and clockmakers, dealers and collectors. The Clocktime Digital Museum table was among them. We were next to the Horological Society of New York’s (HSNY) table, and I had a great time getting to know their executive director Nick Manousos, deputy director Carolina Navarro and librarian St John Karp. The convention culminated with a banquet and keynote lecture, which was given by the world-renowned watchmaker, Roger W. Smith, who is the co-founder of the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers. He spoke about The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of British Watchmaking, a fitting coda to an energetic, thought-provoking and incredibly social week. To my surprise, I won a door prize: a copy of Bob Frishman’s book, Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentlemen 1730 – 1803. It just so happens that Bob was at the banquet, and he graciously signed my new gift. I then travelled to New York, where I spent an afternoon at the HSNY. Founded in 1866, the society is on West 44th Street, just across from the Harvard Club and the Algonquin Hotel. I was greeted by Nick, Carolina, St John and Head Librarian Miranda Marraccini. They treated me to a VIP tour of the Society’s extensive library, classroom and lecture hall. The library is open to the public and boasts around 25,000 horological titles. I also explored their current exhibition, Early American Pocket Watches, which is on display until December 2025. I learned how Nick Manousos and his team have built up the organisation in recent years. Educational programmes have been developed, the library collection has grown, membership has increased and diversified plus their monthly lectures have become major events on the international horological calendar. The HSNY also promotes and supports like-minded organisations both in the US and abroad. The warm reception to the Clocktime Digital Museum initiative is truly appreciated. I hope to return to the US for more horological events soon! As ever, I wish you all excellent timing. Kristin Leith
