Make time to check out the watch and clock convention

If you’ve wondered about the value of a family timepiece passed down to you, or you just have an appreciation for horology, you’ll want to make time to visit the Chattanooga Convention Center either Saturday or Sunday, Sept. 1-2.

More than 300 members of t he National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc. from around the Southeast will be attending the NAWCC Mid- South Regional Convention. The collectors are offering several lectures and a walking t our of t he convention exhibit to the public at no charge.

In addition there will be a convention mart open to the public on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. For a $ 10 admission to The Mart, individuals will find coll ectors buying, selling and trading horological items. While in The Mart, visitors can get a closer l ook at cl ock- making by trying their hands at assembling a clock movement or polishing a pivot on a lathe.

Sherry Kitts, publicity chairwoman for the convention, says f ree appraisals of timepieces will be given at any time during the convention by NAWCC’s knowledgeable members.

Visitors may bring small timepieces (pocket watches, mantle clocks, etc .) or bring good, descriptive photos of large pieces (wall clocks greater than 48 inches in length, grandfather clocks, etc.) for evaluation by members familiar with the particular genre.

“Individuals should come to the front desk with their piece for appraisal, and they will be led to someone to appraise it,” says Kitts.

NAWCC Chapter 61 in Huntsville, Alabama, is hosting this year’s convention, and invites the public to participate in free educational lectures and the “Skeleton Timepieces” exhibit.

“Skeleton Timepieces” is an exhibit about clocks or watches whose mechanical works are visible. Examples made by members will amaze visitors with what can be achieved with a jeweler’s lathe, says Kitts. Anyone interested may join a walking tour of the exhibit at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Educational lectures, which last about 1 hour, are scheduled both days and are also free to the public.

Founded in 1943, the NAWCC is the largest organization of its kind in the world. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, t he nonprof i t has more than 1 5,0 0 0 members and more than 100 i nternat i onal chapters. For more information about the organization, visit NAWCC.org.

NAWCC CONTRIB UTED PHOTOS A skeleton clock does not hide its works behind the face, but shows them off. This lyre skeleton clock was made by one of the members of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, demonstrating what can be done with a lathe.

This Ball-Hamilton’s movement engraving reflects its fine characteristics: 23 jewels, adjusted five positions and an Elinvar hairspring that provides temperature compensation and is immune to magnetic influence.

A BallHamilton 998 highgrade railroad watch.