TIMEPIECE - British Watch and Clock Makers Guild

TIMEPIECE
The Newsletter of the Guild
NUMBER 63 ● MARCH/APRIL 2016
The British
Watch &
Clock Makers’
Guild
Founded 1907
President: The Most Hon. The Marquess of Northampton DL
No One Expected
A Spanish Inquisition
Forgive the comedy headline, but as someone who grew up in the Monty Python era
there was no way I could pass up this chance to pay my respects. However, this is a
serious article that clearly demonstrates why, if you are a Guild Member, it pays you
to invest a few pounds every year from your profits to ensure there are proper
resources available to help protect your business.
In my role as IAF Project Manager, I end up in contact with people in the UK,
Europe, and all around the world who are facing the same issue on parts supply that we
are. Listening to what they have been telling me, it has become ever clearer that people The George Daniels Lecture, held at City
have pieces of information and analysis that on their own don’t lead anywhere. However, University, London, attracted almost 200
if I double check stories to carefully filter out any red herrings and piece the bits of the people to a screening of The Watchmaker’s
Apprentice, followed by a question and
puzzle together, quite often remarkable results emerge. This is a prime example.
On 29 July 2014, the EU Commission released its second set of findings into the answer session with Roger Smith. Full story
on Page 6.
complaint by Confédération Européenne
des Associations d'Horlogers Réparateurs
(CEAHR) that the Swiss watch companies
had engaged in anti-competitive agreements and were abusing a position of
market dominance. For the second time,
the Commission concluded that this was
too small a matter for it to investigate, that
each country’s National Competition
Authority (NCA) was better placed to
investigate, and that whilst it did not make
any findings on whether or not the Swiss
were breaking the rules, it felt that there
was a low likelihood of an infringement of
the competition law rules. All this was in
the documentation that the EU Commission released. I used this as source material
for a seven page paper that I wrote at the
end of 2014 to give a layman’s guide to
the background of the current second
appeal in the EU Court brought by CEAHR
against the EU Commission.
In that paper, as part of an explanation
to demonstrate how the EU Commission
takes precedence over the NCAs, and how
Photographs courtesy of James Nye
S Smith and Son’s shop at 9 The Strand in1871.
NCAs are unable to investigate a matter if
Hot off the press this new book by John Glanville and William M Wolmuth provides a
comprehensive guide on British clockmaking with stunning photographs. Page 13.
Continued on Page 10
Supporting the Industry for more than 100 years
TIMEPIECE
www.bwcmg.org
1
What is the Guild?
Talking to people both in and outside the
trade I am often asked exactly what the
Guild is and what we do? To start off we
are the largest professional horological
organisation in the United Kingdom and
represent more people engaged in the trade
than any other body.
As the number of people engaged in
horology has declined in the past few years,
so too has our membership. It has now
stabilised at around 750 and at the
moment we are seeing more applications
to join than resignations, which are almost
always due to a member's age and retirement.
In the past, the Guild has operated
almost exclusively ‘behind the scenes’ in
its efforts to advance the cause of the trade
and its members. However, I believe this
low profile has allowed those outside our
group to underrate the efforts of the Guild
and its members. The Board is now
determined to raise the Guild's profile and
place us and you the members where we
should be in the centre of UK Horology.
Almost all of the public clocks used
and valued by non-horologists in the UK
are cared for by Guild members as are most
national and private clock collections.
Almost all of the material dealers supplying
spares are Guild members. Dial restorers,
both watch and clock, are members. Horological book sellers are mostly Guild
members as well as specialist wheel cutters,
engravers, balance staff turners etc. All
horological organisations in the UK have
been offered associate membership of the
Guild in an effort to bring the trade
together.
One thing the Guild has always lacked
is a ‘home’, a pile of bricks, somewhere
we can call our own. The problem was, is
and always will be, the costs involved, and
right from the beginning I am sure that
those responsible for leading our Guild felt
that resources were better spent elsewhere
and the cost to the membership of premises could not be justified. So for Board
meetings we hire a room in London, an
expensive process but still more cost
effective than having our own premises.
The Guild is a completely independent
body and owes its allegiance solely to its
members and the general public and works
towards advancing horology in all areas.
Recently, a member stated that they were
surprised at the Guild for expressing
support for the BHI's lottery application.
The Guild Board is ready to support any
viable attempt at training for the future
2
Photo courtesy Richard Barker, Essex Life.
from wherever it comes, but the BHI has
yet to convince the Board that this project
is, in fact, the best way forward. At the
moment, we feel that the traditional
apprenticeship enhanced by something
similar to what was once provided by
Hackney College would give a more
rounded education to new horologists.
So who leads the Guild? The Guild is
run by a Board of Directors elected from
the membership. Any member interested
in attending meetings or joining the Board
is most welcome. Dates for board meetings
are published in TimePiece.
Day to day running of the Guild falls
to myself as the current Chairman, and
the Secretary, Bob Moir. The other main
officer is our Treasurer, Lionel Blowes. We
are ably assisted by the other members
who you will also see listed in TimePiece.
Jayne Hall is your contact for TimePiece and the Guild website and Steve
Domb, together with three members of the
Board, is responsible for carrying forward
our response to the Swatch parts embargo
and for administering the Industry Action
Fund, set up to fund our efforts to resolve
what is the main danger to our members,
the Swiss parts issue. Neither Jayne or
Steve are members of the Board.
Our new revamped TimePiece is here
to serve and inform you and we would
like to see members increase their involvement. We realise that horologists are
difficult people to tempt into writing and
it is usually the amateur with time on his
hands who writes for magazines, but we
do need to hear from you. Jayne can tidy
up material, sort out spelling errors, and if
necessary, make even me look as if I have
some passing knowledge of English. Now
it is your turn.
So what is happening with the IAF?
As we approach the end of the first phase,
the funds raised have allowed us to
compile a comprehensive dossier on the
Swatch embargo and Steve has been busy
on a worldwide scale contacting relevant
organisations gathering material, and as
you will see from his report in this issue,
preparing our response.
The Guild Board has been saddened
that not everyone has yet come on board
with our efforts and pledged support for
the IAF, which is the fund which allows us
to employ Steve full time to push forward
with our efforts to safeguard our trade and
cover all the expenses involved. Some
people have even said ‘I am a clockmaker
and the watch parts issue is not my problem’. Firstly, the trade must stand together
to advance horology in the UK, but also, if
your watch colleagues cannot carry on due
to the parts embargo, they may well
re-equip their workshops for clock repairs
and set up in opposition to you!
The latest news is that our new website,
which members have been telling us
needed updating for some time is now
designed and up and running. With our
new TimePiece, a new website and
membership increasing I hope you can see
the vast improvement which will benefit
each and every member. The Guild is
modernising and you will see the general
public becoming more aware of the Guild
and your business.
We want to make Guild membership a
valuable part of your business and an
advantage over your competitors.However,
there is always a 'but' and in our case in
order to continue improving, the Board
has had to invest far more than subscription income.
Up until now we have used our reserves to fund the modernisation, but at
the February Board Meeting, after much
discussion and looking at costs for the
coming year, it was decided to recommend
to the next Annual General Meeting that
there be an increase in subscriptions. The
new subscription will be £52 for
members and £35 for retired members. I
must stress that this increase is necessary
for the running of the Guild. The spare
parts embargo issue is completely separate
and will continue to be funded from the
Industry Action Fund.
Letters
Spare Parts Supply
I have just read with great interest a letter
emailed from CMH compiled by Mr Steve
Domb regarding the difficulty in obtaining
spare parts from the Swiss watch industry.
As a quick bit of background about
myself I trained as a goldsmith and jeweller
in my local Devon town upon leaving
school at 16 and later did a horology
apprentiship starting at St Lloyes College,
Exeter and later Birmingham UCE.
I later opened my own retail shop providing bespoke jewellery and undertaking
watch repairs and servicing.
I closed my business in December 2010
at the age of 44 after 12 successful years.
One of the main reasons was frustration!
Having the skills to repair or make parts
for timepieces, the lack of ability of
obtaining genuine parts was enough to
make me call it a day.
I am constantly asked by previous
customers why I don’t want to repair
watches anymore. I watch this subject with
hope that things will change for future
horologists.
Scott Wolfe
Thank you for your extremely positive
feedback re the new-look TimePiece –
there are too many to print individually
so here’s just a small sample.
New Look TimePiece 1
Just got my copy of TimePiece, and wanted
to write you a quick note to congratulate
you on your new design.
It looks miles better than the old version, and provides an interesting read
throughout. Great layout, great writing,
and so much better than before!
Christian Dannemann
New Look TimePiece 2
I would like to say how good the new
TimePiece magazine is. It is full of useful
information and it would be great for it to
continue as such. But to enable it to do so
we need the members support in supplying
articles, adverts, hints and tips, book reviews, etc.
So come on members, don’t be shy.
This is a great start and something we can
be proud of… start writing!
Keith Scobie-Youngs FBHI, ACR
New Look TimePiece 3
Well, I'm very impressed with the revamp
of the TimePiece! I loved the previous format of the newsletter but this reworking
has given it the stamp of authority and
professionalism which the industry so
much needs at present.
The articles and photographs were fascinating (I can now tell my customers that
the Microset timer I'm using on their clock
is identical to that used to monitor the
Great Clock of Westminster) and the start
of regular features looks very promising.
James Went
Please send submissions to:
Jayne Hall, Editor
British Watch and Clock Makers’ Guild
26 Knights Close
Windsor, Berks, SL4 5QR
Email: editor@bwcmg.org
The views expressed on the letters
page are the author’s own and not
those of the Guild.
Clocks of the World
The photograph shows the clock in the middle of Grand Central
Station in New York City. All the clocks in the station run a
minute fast and no secret is made of it – paradoxically, it slows
people down and there are fewer accidents due to rushing to
catch trains.
Quite a few people set their own watch or clock a bit fast, including my mother-in-law who says: ‘It's like losing your passport
and finding it again – you worry that you're late for a moment,
but then remember the clock is fast. You're relieved, and end up
happier than if the clock was right in the first place!’
Created by the famous Connecticut clock crafting company
know as Seth Thomas, the clock is valued at between 10 and 20
million dollars, and has starred in several movies throughout
Hollywood history.
Grand Central Station is home to countless secret passageways,
underground private tracks and secret staircases; one of these
secret staircases is located directly below the circular information
booth where the clock is situated.
The ‘Grand Central Terminal Clock’ in the middle of Grand Central
Station in New York City.
Photograph copyright Ingfbruno via Creative Commons.
3
USA Wooden Clocks
Dr Mike Flannery FBHI
Winston Churchill Memorial
Trust
Flying to Boston was the first practical experience of the WCMF
Fellowship. I had never flown long haul and this was a great experience; full marks to British Airways. I spent a couple of days
in Boston and visited the Boston Museum of Modern Art. They
have a series of rooms with period American furniture and, of
course, there were the usual American tall case, wall and decorative clocks. Sadly none were working and, as far as I could see,
there were no wooden clocks. I was very interested to see the
plaster cast of a French design for a decorative clock case by
Renoir. I think these plaster models are pretty rare.
I have been a member of the National Association of Watch
and Clock Collectors (NACWW) in the USA for some time and
before travelling I used their excellent web forum to help with
my fellowship planning. One of the sections of the NAWCC
forum is dedicated to wooden clocks. My main contact in the
States was Peter Nunes who proved to be a mine of information
and a great support. I could not have accessed the private collections or enjoyed privileged visits to museums, as well as in depth
discussions with other clocks repairers, without his good offices.
The chapter of the NAWCC devoted to the study of wooden
wheeled clocks is known as the ‘cog counters’.
My first meeting with Peter lasted over five hours and I think
I learnt more about wooden wheeled clocks in that time than I
have done over the previous few years. There is very little accurate
An American shelf clock with a wooden wheeled movement.
A rare plaster cast of a French design for a decorative clock case by
Renoir.
4
printed information on wooden wheeled clocks published in
English. This is something that I hope to address in the fullness
of time.
My first visit to a private collection was eye opening. I was
expecting a collection of perhaps ten clocks so I was totally
unprepared to be shown a collection of American shelf clocks
which numbered in the hundreds. As I was to learn later, Americans do things very differently. A considerable number of these
shelf clocks were fitted with wooden wheeled movements.
I had timed my visit to coincide with the NAWCC convention
in Chattanooga. I had decided to hire a car for the whole of my
visit and this was a good decision. The drive from Boston to
Chattanooga took me three days. I had been advised to spend
some time taking the 109 miles of the Skyline drive through the
Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This
was very good advice and, as the maximum speed in the park
was only 35 mph, I was fully able to enjoy the drive and appreciate
the stunning scenery. Incidentally, I found the cost of fuel quite a
pleasant surprise – it was a good bit cheaper than in the UK, but
then I discovered that the US gallon is a fair bit smaller than our
UK one! My hire car, being automatic and having air conditioning,
which I most certainly needed in the American south in June,
was not perhaps as economical as I had hoped. Having said that
A clock by Asa Munger, who in the early 1800s made Black Forest
designed clocks in America with american wooden wheels.
I did travel just under 6,000 miles during my time in the States,
without a prang, although there were quite a few u turns here
and there!
As I expected the convention was grand and as well as a large
indoor mart, on the second and third day was supported by
lectures meeting and other social events. I did as Churchill would
have done and took full advantage of the whole thing, attending
meetings, lectures, and spending a lot of time in the large mart
hall.
I was very interested in the prices on offer. I am not particularly
well informed about prices of horologica in the UK so I was interested to see how the American’s valued things. On the whole I
found that books were a bit more expensive than I had hoped.
Some fairly plain clocks were heavily priced too. The English
longcase clocks on offer were expensive, although I am not sure
how many were actually selling at the marked price. Haggling
seemed to be good natured and to some extent expected. I bought
a few bits and pieces but as I had to eventually get it back on the
plane, I didn’t acquire as much as I would have liked! What did
catch my eye however was the cost of Atmos clocks, the supply
of which seemed plentiful, offered at around $350. I have recently
bought an Atmos in the UK and paid 30 per cent more even
allowing for the conversion rate.
After the convention I headed down country for a couple of
days in Nashville where I spent a very happy few hours in the
Country Music Hall of Fame generally soaking up the atmosphere.There is music everywhere, on the streets, in pubs and
cafes, and if you like country music, and I do, you are in the right
place.
I visited Carters Vintage Guitar Shop and quite fortuitously
hanging on the wall was a wooden wheeled clock in the shape of
a guitar. It made the trip to a guitar shop seem somehow justifiable.
Sadly I could neither afford the clock nor could I afford another
vintage guitar.
A short flight from Atlanta,
took me to New Orleans to
look at Spanish and French
influences on clocks, and then
back to visit the NAWCC Museum and Library at Columbia, where I spent three very
enjoyable days trawling the library archives and searching
out lots of very enlightening
books, articles and even single
references about wooden
clocks.
Through Peter Nunes I
also managed to make contact
with two craftsmen whose
reputation for repair work on
wooden clocks is highly regarded. Both have a differing
approach to the philosophy of
repair on these antiques and
Mike in his workshop.
both visits provided a great
deal of food for thought.
I was made very welcome by these two highly experienced and
very busy craftsmen. They both kindly gave their time to answer
my questions, most of which I suspect were to them, very basic.
It made me decide that if ever I get asked to make time to help a
researcher, I must make sure that I do.
Two days at the American Watch and Clock Museum near
Hartford was a great treat. I have always been interested in what
some call the sociology of horology, broadly bringing the artifact
back to the time it was made, setting it in its historical context,
the machinery available for construction and the conditions in
which the clockmakers of the time worked. I had the chance to
talk with two researchers in this field – again time very well spent.
A final two day meeting with Peter in Rhode Island enabled
me to ask far better questions than I was able to do at the start of
my trip. The preceding few weeks had broadened my horizons in
terms of what I had seen, the people with whom I was lucky to
spend time, and the great variety of clocks I had been able to
inspect.
I suspect like all these searches the more you find out the
more you realise you don’t know, and the more you would like to
discover! There are still more questions that I would like to try to
answer, including what are the links, if any, between the American
and German/Swiss wooden clocks?
American researchers tend, in the main, to the view that there
are few developmental links between them. But clockmakers like
Asa Munger, who in the early 1800s made Black Forest
designed clocks in America with American wooden wheels, seem
to set a counter argument. I was also introduced to, and became
interested in, the history of American paper dials and their dial
painters. There is so much to see and so much more to learn.
In the May edition of TimePiece, Mike reports from the
final leg of his trip to the Black Forest.
Applications for the 2017 Winston Churchill
Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship open in May.
For more information visit: www.wcmt.org.uk
5
George Daniels
Lecture
The Legendary Watchmaker and
his Apprentice
Almost 200 people attended the annual George Daniels Lecture,
at City University, London, when the documentary film ‘Roger W
Smith: The Watchmaker’s Apprentice’ was screened.
The documentary charts George’s rise from abject poverty to
become the most renowned watchmaker in the world – creator of
the co-axial escapement, a very significant development in the
trade.
It also follows the story of his apprentice, Roger Smith, whose
seven-year journey is one of trials, tribulations and eventually
triumph. Roger was on hand after the lecture, which took place
on 2nd December, to answer questions..
George Daniels CBE, DSc, FBHI, FSA (19 August 1926-21
October 2011) studied horology at the Northampton Institute,
the City’s predecessor. After his death, the George Daniels Educational Trust administered the substantial funds he bequeathed to
provide scholarships for City’s students and to benefit research in
measurement and instrumentation at the University.
Along with the art and craft of the fine watchmaking exemplified by his mentor, Roger Smith has inherited George Daniels’
workshop. He also employs a team of young apprentices who
will ensure the longevity of the time-honoured tradition of handmade mechanical watchmaking.
Currently, at City University, George Daniels' substantial
financial endowment supports the George Daniels Chair in
Scientific Instrumentation; the George Daniels Lecturer in Scientific
Instrumentation; 15 undergraduate scholars studying for degrees
in Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical Engineering and
Mathematical Sciences; and three PhD studentships.
After the screening Professor Ken Grattan, Chair in Scientific
Instrumentation, said: ‘This year’s lecture provided an excellent
opportunity to learn more about the master watchmaker and the
exacting standards he set in both his own work and in the training
of his supremely talented apprentice, Roger Smith.
‘It was splendid to have both Roger and David Newman, the
Chair of the George Daniels Educational Trust, present on the
Roger Smith FBHI, Prof Sir Paul Curran and David Newman, Chairman of
the George Daniels Educational Trust.
evening to discuss George Daniels, his work and his legacy to
such a large audience here at City.’
There are 15 undergraduate scholars; Filip Livancic, who is
studying for an MEng in Aeronautical Engineering, is pleased to
be a recipient of such a prestigious award. He says he has ‘benefited
substantially from the George Daniels scholarship’ and plans to
follow a path into the engineering sector of the aviation industry.
Henry Kirkbride, another George Daniels scholar at City University, pursuing a MEng in Civil Engineering, is also grateful for
the assistance enabling him to complete his studies. Henry plans
to work in project management on completion of his studies.
In the next issue David Poole, Chairman of the George Daniels
Advisory Committee, will write about the many horological
students who are benefitting from financial assistance.
If you want to train to become a clock or watchmaker, and
wonder whether the George Daniels Educational Trust can assist,
details of how to apply for financial assistance is available at
www.gdetac.co.uk
Roger Smith with some of the many scholars who have already benefitted from the George Daniels Educational Trust.
6
Photographs courtesy of City University, London.
Winding a Wristwatch
An Unconventional Approach
by Peter Bill
A trade customer reported that a recently serviced gents gold
Favre Leuba wristwatch gave a poor reserve, and the owner
complained of difficulty when winding his watch. The movement, cal 270, has two barrels yet it stopped after about 12
hours. The crown was original.
At the customer’s request, I fitted a slightly longer stem.
Figure 1 shows what would appear to be a satisfactory protrusion
of the crown. This enabled the customer to fully wind the watch
giving a reserve >34hours. Figure 2, however, shows the weakness
of this solution: no seal between crown and case. The implications
of this were pointed out to the customer, who in turn advised the
owner. Despite the higher risk of dust and moisture ingress, the
owner wished to keep the watch in this condition.
From this second photograph, the reader can imagine how
deeply the crown nestled in the case when fitted with the original
stem. In the original condition, the action of winding, of necessity,
meant that a radial force was exerted on the crown and stem.
One often sees wear on the plates of movements of old mechanical
dress wristwatches, suggesting that they have been wound on
the wrist whilst being worn, ie radial force gets applied to the
stem.
Sometimes the collaborative relationship with a good customer
enables one to evaluate an unconventional remedy to a problem.
Before considering the application of a longer stem to this partic-
ular watch, an experiment was conducted using the device shown
in Figure 3, 4 & 5 as a winding aid. (Initially, it was not expected
that the customer would find the longer stem acceptable.)
As some owners of older, mechanical fashion wristwatches
find their fingers are not quite as nimble as they once were, I
thought that perhaps the small device illustrated may help. It is
made from bone and pressed onto the crown, making winding
easy and avoiding any radial force being applied.
It is deliberately smooth (ie without knurling) to reduce the
chances of excessive torque being applied. The included angle of
30 degrees shown in the sketch of the sectional view is approximate.
The device works well but as yet has not been fully evaluated
by a customer. It is unlikely to cause wear to the plating on a
quality crown and is simple to make. The brass ring was added
because bone has a tendency to crack along its grain, Figure 4 &
5. I have no intention of going into production with this device,
but am aware that there is a significant number of owners of ‘riper
years’ who wear mechanical dress watches, from time to time.
So, if any of our members are able to assist a customer in overcoming the stiffness of the fingers that might otherwise have
made the wearing of a treasured watch impracticable, I am pleased
to have provided the idea.
3. Section through the winding aid. Drawing by John Warbey.
1. The crown with the longer stem.
4 & 5. The brass ring to
protect the bone from
cracking.
2. No seal between the crown and case.
If anyone has any hints or tips to share with other members
please get in touch:
Jayne Hall, Editor. Email: editor@bwcmg.org
7
Business Profile
In the Workshop with Christian
Dannemann
Having worked in computer software for 20 years, I had already
started a successful recipe blog in the late 90s that attracted 4,000
visitors per day during the winter months. I wanted to repeat the
success of that blog with another one of my hobbies, watch repair.
This wasn’t really meant to be a career changing move rather just
an outlet for my hobby – and that’s how watchguy.co.uk was born!
I started in January 2012 showing in detail how I took apart
and put together watch movements and the blog quickly attracted
some following. In a bid to broaden the appeal, I offered to service
other people’s watches for free in order to attract a wider selection
of watches.
So far, I had aquired my watch knowledge from reading, and
by trial and error. Once I had repaired the first watches that were
sent in, I felt the need to broaden my skills, and signed up for the
BHI Distance Learning Course. At the same time, I was looking
for a tutor and found one at my local BHI branch meeting, George
Clegg, FBHI, also a member of the British Watch and Clock
Makers Guild, who offered to give me tuition free of charge. Once
a week I spent a day at his workshop, and was also fed and
watered by his wife Yve, who makes a great fruit cake!
This together with the DLC sent me on a steep learning curve
and, as I went along, I bought more and more tools and equipment. Towards the middle of 2012 a lot of my blog readers offered
to pay for my services and I felt ready for it. With George’s help,
I started my professional watch repair career. There was still lots
to be learned but I greatly enjoyed what I was doing.
In early 2013, my wife had severe health problems, and I had
to put the watch repair on ice for some months, and I also missed
the May exam of the BHI. When my wife got better, I restarted
with renewed energy, and decided that I needed some software to
Christian Dannemann at the bench.
help me along in what I was doing. So in 2013, I wrote the
necessary code to allow me to record all the jobs as they came
into the workshop and also to allow my customers to see photos
and workshop notes as I was working on their watch. The aim
was to give every customer a comprehensive record of what
happened in my workshop – and customers loved it!
Usually, a customer hands in his watch to be repaired and
just has to trust the watch repairer at the end when he gets his
watch back. With my new software, there is no hiding, customers
can see exactly what I have done as I upload detailed photos of
every job I carry out. So the uncertainty of whether the movement
had really been taken apart, or just got a quick clean, was taken
away. This resulted in a further influx of work.
Towards the end of 2013, I had a lot more requests for work
coming in than I could handle and my little workshop, in the
Apprentice Mitka
Engebretsen from
Norway.
8
Inside the Christian Danneman workshop – a further move is on the cards for July 2016 as they are
growing out of their existing premises.
shepherd’s hut in the garden, got too small. I rented new premises
on an industrial estate in our village, and added an automated
booking system to my software. The booking system gives out
repair slots for existing and new customers at set intervals, and
customers have to come to the web site at a certain time in order
to obtain a repair slot. Every time I give out new slots, they tend
to be taken up at about one per second.
Existing customers can book in their watches a week before
new customers and so have ‘first dibs’ and more time before the
slots are gone.
In 2014, having moved into my new premises, I felt that it
was time to give back a bit of the generosity I had so far received
from my mentor George. I employed an apprentice, Mitka
Engebretsen from Norway. He started in April 2014 and enrolled
on the BHI DLC for his theoretical training. We started off with
watches bought on eBay, and after six months he was ready to
work on customer watches. He quickly established a personal
relationship with some of our customers, and posted about his
progress on our now joint blog. Our readers took to him very
quickly, and encouraged him as he went along. Mitka took his
exams in May 2015 and will soon work on his own accounts
within a shared workshop.
As our premises have become a bit too small again, we will be
moving into new premises in July 2016 with a total floor surface
of 1,000 square feet, which is quite an upgrade from the 250
square feet we have at the moment.
Only 50 per cent of my customers come from the UK, and
the rest from all over the world. The blog now attracts 1,400
unique visitors per day, and we get several enquiries per day
about all sorts of watch problems. We try to answer every single
email, which does take up quite a bit of time.
As I believe that reputation is everything, I’m happy to invest
time into building it up and maintaining it. It is the trust our
customers have in our work that will help us grow our business
in the future at the rate that I have grown it so far. We also operate
a very generous returns policy, and err on the side of our
customers. That includes repairing watches on warranty where it
An intricate repair.
might well be the customer’s fault that the watch came back, but
I’d rather spend some time on a return and not charge than have
a customer that isn’t satisfied. In the age of the internet, a negative
review or post on a forum can go a long way, and so can a positive
one. We work hard on our online reputation, and the generous
handling of returns is part of that.
Watchguy.co.uk fully embraces the opportunities the internet
offers, in all aspects of running the business, from the relationship
with our customers to sourcing spare parts from all over the
world.
9
Industry Action Fund
Continued from Page 1
there is a current investigation being done
by the EU Commission, I made reference
to a quote from the Commission regarding
an investigation by the Spanish NCA that
had been stopped by the Commission in
2011 when it began its second inquiry.
The phrase used was ‘The initiation of
proceedings by the Commission relieved
the Spanish NCA of its competence to apply EU antitrust rules to this case.’
At the end of 2014, with everything
else that was going on, I didn’t realise the
significance of this statement, but the
understanding that I have gained over the
last few months from having the time to
study documents, talk to other people in
the industry, and cross check information
with different sources, has changed all that.
With regard to the Spanish case, I am
particularly grateful to Andre Fluery who,
along with his son, operates a watch repair
business on the West Coast of the USA,
and who took on Cartier in America over
parts supply some years ago. On his
advice, I went looking for more information. The good news was I found two
documents published by the Spanish NCA.
The bad news was they were both in Spanish, and I did French at school.
Google Translate is a double edged
sword, particularly when dealing with legal
documents. It gave me a very rough
translation, but there was enough that was
intelligible to suggest that on 12 April 2011
the Spanish NCA had ruled that almost
all the major Swiss watch companies had
been found to have infringed Spanish and
European Law, by refusing or preventing
the supply of spare parts for watches.
Could it be that a European NCA had
beaten the Commission to the punch?
How had they been able to investigate this
when there was a current EU investigation
taking place? Mostly, how come the
Spanish watchmakers still were not getting
any parts? After discussion with the IAF
Management Team, we decided to pay out
a few hundred pounds to get the two
documents converted into English by a
properly accredited legal translation
service. A few days later, we were able to
piece the whole story together.
In July 2008, the EU Commission
finished its first investigation of the 2004
complaint by CEAHR. A month or so later,
10
Steve Domb - IAF Project Manager.
CEAHR lodged an appeal at the EU Court
against the Commission’s findings.
Independently from this, in or around the
start of 2009, a Spanish watchmaker
lodged a complaint with the Spanish NCA
against a number of Swiss companies,
regarding their refusal to supply him with
spares. The Investigations Directorate of
the Spanish NCA set to work, and on 14
April 2010 they instituted penalty
proceedings against 39 manufacturers and
distributors for breach of Spanish and EU
competition law.
In December 2010, the EU Court,
having found a ‘manifest error’ in the way
the Commission assessed the market,
found in favour of CEAHR and overturned
the Commission’s decision. This left the
EU situation in limbo as the Commission
worked out what it was going to do next.
Meanwhile, back in Spain the Investigations Directorate were still hard at work,
and on 11 February 2011 they decided to
include another four companies into the
penalty proceedings. On 12 April 2011,
the proceedings ended and the Investigations Directorate issued a ‘Proposed
Resolution’ to the Council of the Spanish
NCA in which they declared that breaches
of Spanish and EU competition law had
been found in the actions of, take a deep
breath…
Sowind S.A., Breitling Montres S.A.,
Cronomar S.A., Cartier S.A., Baume &
Mercier S.A, IWC International Watch Co.
AG, Manufacture Jaeger-Le Coultre S.A.,
Piaget S.A., Vacheron & Constantin S.A.,
Officine Panerai Marketing e Communi-
cazione SrL and Richemont Iberia S.A.,
LVMH Swiss Manufactures S.A., Les Ateliers Horlogers Dior S.A., Hublot S.A.,
LVMH Relojería y Joyería España S.A., Diarsa Alta Relojería Importación S.A., Patek
Philippe S.A. and Patek Philippe España
S.L., Rolex S.A., Montres Tudor S.A., Rolex
España S.A., Montres Breguet S.A., Blancpain Ltd., Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH,
Montres Jaquet Droz Ltd., Léon Hatot Ltd.,
Omega Ltd., Longines Watch Co., Francillon Ltd., The Swatch Group (Europa),
Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Bulgari S.p.A.,
Bulgari Time (Suiza) S.A., Daniel Roth et
Gérald Genta Haute Horlogerie S.A., Bulgari Global Operations S.A., Bulgari España
S.A., Eberhard&Co S.A., Luxury Timepieces International S.A., and Distribuidora
Internacional de Alta Relojería S.A. (but
not by Oris S.A., Boucheron S.A.S. and
Rado Watch Co. Ltd.).
… and that sanctions proceedings
should be commenced against those who
have infringed the law.
This whole investigation and ruling had
been going on at the same time as the EU
Court had been deliberating on the
CEAHR appeal against the EU Commission’s findings. As I wrote earlier, NCAs
are not allowed to start investigations if
the EU Commission are already working
on the same thing, so the first conundrum
for us was to work out how had the
Spanish NCA been able to do all this? The
answer was provided when a lawyer acting
for Richemont lodged an appeal with the
Council of the Spanish NCA on 11 May
2011 asking it to overturn the findings of
the Investigation Directorate and halt the
sanctions proceedings. The grounds for
the appeal were that Richemont (and
others) were the subject of a current EU
investigation, so the Spanish NCA had no
right to investigate in parallel, and that
because the EU Commission was now
going to have to start a new investigation,
Richemont and the rest were going to incur
extra costs fighting on two fronts at the
same time, and their case would suffer as
they would have to split their resources
two ways.
The results of the appeal came on 30
June 2011, and were interesting to say the
least. The Spanish pointed out that an
investigation by the EU Commission ends
when it delivers its findings. The fact that
those findings are being challenged in the
EU Court does not mean that the investigation has been reopened. As the NCA
had conducted its investigation after the
EU Commission had released its findings,
it was entirely within its rights to do so. In
regard to Richemonts’ claims about having
to fight two actions at the same time, the
Spanish said that the EU Commission had
still not announced what it was going to
do as a result of having lost to CEAHR on
appeal, so any suggestion that the
Commission would have to start a new
investigation was theoretical, not factual.
The Spanish NCA rejected the appeal, and
Richemont (and others) lost again.
So why is it that Spanish watchmakers
still don’t have open access to spare parts
from all the brands? This is where our
story takes a rather odd turn. Having taken
four years on its original investigation, and
then spent seven months seemingly sitting
on its hands (having been told by the EU
Court that it hadn’t done its job properly),
a mere nine days after the Spanish throw
out the appeal by Richemont, the EU
Commission sends a letter to the Spanish
NCA telling them it is about to start a new
investigation, and asking for their
comments. The Spanish replied to the
Commission 12 days after that, and less
than two weeks later, the Commission
informed the Spanish NCA that they had
started a new investigation, which legally
obliged the Spanish to stop what they were
doing days before they could decide what
penalties they were going to impose. On 5
August 2011, the EU Commission made a
public announcement about the new
investigation. On the same day, the Spanish
NCA got a letter from Cartier requesting a
suspension of the Spanish proceedings,
and that was followed up six days later by
similar requests from other companies.
The Spanish NCA had no option other
than to terminate its proceedings. I leave
you to draw your own conclusions as to
what (or who) prompted this sudden burst
of activity at the EU Commission.
Three years on from all this, the EU
Commission released the findings of its
second investigation. One of its conclusions was that once again ‘the Commission
considers that there is limited likelihood
of finding an infringement pursuant to
Article 102 TFEU in this case’ (Article 102
covers the Abuse of Market Dominance).
Three things were puzzling me. Firstly,
how on earth could the EU Commission
make such a claim when an investigation
by the Spanish NCA had found exactly
such abuse? Secondly, why was CEAHR
not highlighting this point, as from my
perspective, it validated their entire case?
Thirdly, the EU Commission had released
its second set of findings on the 29 July
2014, so with no current investigation
running, why haven’t the Spanish NCA
reopened their proceedings, and finished
the job off?
When we asked CEAHR about all this,
it seems that it was unaware of the Spanish
case. Like me, it hadn’t realised the significance of the remark about it in the second
EU Commission findings. Furthermore,
the Spanish equivalent of the Guild hadn’t
joined CEAHR until 2012 when the matter
was already ended, and there had been
some communications issues because of
language problems. Suffice to say that we
forwarded the papers and our translations
to CEAHR, and it knows all about it now.
As for the Spanish, I engaged the
services of an Argentinian Business
Graduate who speaks impeccable English
and Spanish, and we made contact with
the Spanish NCA. They still have the file,
and whilst they can’t show it to us, they
are more than happy to share it with the
UK Competition and Markets Authority.
We then made contact with the Spanish
Watchmakers’ Association, and I’m sure
you will forgive me if I don’t go into any
more detail as to what is going on at this
moment in time… Clearly a useful opportunity was missed first time around. It is
easy to look at all this and point fingers at
others for apparently getting things wrong,
but I am not about to go along with that.
Anyone who has had the gumption to
stand up and fight for the future of our
trade gets my respect and admiration, especially with the meagre resources available
to most of them.
The true learning from all this is just
how important it was for the UK industry
to fund at least one full time person to do
the digging, investigate the issues, and
communicate the results. If you have
already contributed to the IAF, please
consider giving further support. If you
haven’t contributed yet, please do so by
emailing me at iaf@bwcmg.org.
If you still think it’s up to everyone else
to pay for this kind of work, in my view
the likely outcome is your business will
fail. Worse still, if we allow that attitude to
become the norm, then the last that anyone
will see of the world’s independent Watch
Repair trade is a once thriving industry doing a Silly Walk into the sunset whilst
whistling ‘Always Look on the Bright Side
of Life’.
NEWS
BCU – HOROLOGY DEPT
– A VISIT BY THE WATCH WINDER
Part of the education offered by Birmingham City University School of Jewellery
Horology Department focuses on the representation of time and explores creating
designs for timepieces. Students work is
currently displayed as part of the Clockmakers’ Exhibition at the London Science
Museum.
To reinforce and enliven the teaching,
visiting speakers are regularly welcomed
and BCU recently hosted the man behind
the eponymous watch brand Mr Jones.
www.mrjoneswatches.com
Crispin Jones explained how his
watchmaking business evolved from ideas
around the showing of time through different means other than a commonplace
analogue or digital dial. Early design ideas
used wrist worn screens to alternate a
time display with motivational messages –
and sometimes demotivational to suppress the too lively! Another idea showed
how displaying the television programmes listings we are familiar with
could serve as an indication as to what
time it actually is.
Crispin also discussed the ideas
behind many of his designs including
the Cyclops model, see photo. Here a
black ring, with thickness equivalent
to 15 minutes, takes the place of the
hour hand as it passes over twelve
coloured discs. Dependant on the position it is possible to tell the time to
within approximately three minutes.
Jeremy Hobbins, Head of Horology, said: ‘Crispin’s visit shows how
sharing the philosophy and thinking
behind the design process can be of
interest and encouraging to students
thinking of designing their own timepieces. We would be very interested
to hear from others who felt they had
something of horological interest to
share with our students.
Email: jeremy.hobbins@bcu.ac.uk
11
MEMBERS
The following members of the trade
have applied for membership of the
Guild and have had their application
accepted.
NEW WEBSITE – UP
AND RUNNING!
If you haven’t already, do log on to the
internet and have a look at the new Guild
website which went live a couple of weeks
ago.
Although it is still very much a workin-progress, we think you will agree it
looks much more professional and is far
easier to navigate than the old site.
Don’t forget that the Guild is YOUR
organisation and we want to know what
you, the members, would like to see both
in the TimePiece and on the website.
Any feedback, as long as it is constructive, is warmly welcome and will, if at all
possible, be acted on. But remember, we
really do rely on members to contribute
to make the Guild the best it can be. We
want you to share your knowledge with
other members so get your thinking caps
on and put pen to paper.
If your aren’t much of a wordsmith,
and there is a topic you want covering but
don’t feel able to write about, let me know
and I will see what I can do.
I look forward to hearing from you.
P Cigobine
C Steward
S Streeton
J Beckett
S Gordon
H Attrah
I Rakhra
K Davies
G Crabtree
J Walker
C James
K Buchanan
S Rose
O Pollock
T Reeves
K Cornwell
NORTH MITCHAM
BRISTOL
TAUNTON
RUNCORN
COLCHESTER
BOLTON
SOUTHAMPTON
PORTSMOUTH
PENRITH
LEIGHTON BUZZARD
COVENTRY
DERBY
HODDESDON
LONDON
BRIDLINGTON
HALIFAX
Jayne Hall, Editor
Email: editor@bwcmg.org
OUT AND ABOUT
Big Ben Trip
There’s lots happening in the horological
world over the next few months and Guild
members are invited to join in.
The Guild’s own trip to Big Ben will
take place on Friday 8 July 2016 at 2pmfeaturing a tour of the clock, bells and
clock tower and hopeful the House of
Commons and Lords. More details on the
Secretary’s page.
School of Jewellery
Guild members are also invited to the
British School of Jewellery in Birmingham,
MEMBERS’ MART
BUY, SELL, SWAP
Manchester Clock Tours
This year sees the launch of regular tours
up Manchester Town Hall Clock Tower,
which offer ‘unparralleled 360 degree’
views of the city.
Qualified tour guides will tell the fascinating tale about the bells – the hour
bell, Great Abel was named after the Lord
Mayor of the time. There’s also the chance
to study up close the mechanism of the
For Sale
Extensive stock of over 1,500 Ronda stems
For Sale
Staking set, choice of two, £40-£60
L & R Watch Cleaning Machine £40
Vibrograph Timer £120
Box of Armed Glasses £30
Material Storage Tower – Offers
Contact: Dave Ellis
Tel: 01702 206304 (Southend)
to hear a talk on automata by John Moorhouse. Details in the next TimePiece.
Contact: Don Clark, 105 Keptie Road, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 3EW
Wanted
Clocks or watches by Essex makers
Rollimat pivot polishing machine
Early wheel cutting engine
Contact: Chris Papworth
Tel: 01376 573434
The Gillet and Bland mechanism.
vast clock from Gillet and Bland. For more
information and to book a private tour
contact Jonathan Schofield (07876
235638) or Sue McCarthy (07941
263704) or contact them through
www.manchestertours.co.uk
Wanted
Striking 12” fusee
drop dial with
roll to wall and
mother of pearl
inlay, c1850
Any condition
considered
Contact: Stella
Haward
Tel: 01449 741668
Advertise here for free. Contact Jayne Hall, Editor, The TimePiece
Tel: 07496 449978 Email: editor@bwcmg.org
12
Book Reviews
Author: John Glanville and
William M Wolmuth
Published: The Crowood Press Ltd,
Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire,
SN8 2HR
www.crowood.com
ISBN 978 1 84797 895 0
Copies may be bought via the publisher’s
website for £40 + £2.50 postage within
UK
When I first learnt that these two gentlemen were collecting, buying and collating
these massed produced modest clocks I
was a little puzzled. My early life had been
governed by these clocks. They were in
the homes of my friends, aunts, uncles and
even my own parents, given as wedding
presents, retirement gifts, long service
awards, etc.
In my early working days I engraved
and fitted numerous plaques and plates
recording the ‘event, venue and year’ as
these clocks were given out as prizes at
many functions.
Many early ‘greasy spoon’ cafes’ had
the ceramic teapot clock (see photo below)
and now, at every new, upmarket, retro
An example of the wall-hanging teapot clock –
227mm high and 270mm wide. Ⓒ The Authors
An advertisement showing BUCC’s new factory
in Erdington, Birmingham, 1 November 1888.
Ⓒ P Gosnell.
John Glanville and Bill Wolmuth’s book
provides a comprehensive history of
traditional English clockmaking. They are
able to name many modest anonymous
movements and recognise the solid sensible reliable clocks of so many makers that
have counted away the lives of so many of
us.
I believe this book will be the definitive
reference tome for many future
students/budding clock makers who
received horological information, education and tuition, as these are the last
mechanical movements that allow
traditional skills to be practiced. John
Glanville presented this as the 20th
Dingwall-Beloe Lecture in 2009.
This front-wound 8-day timepiece is stamped
MERCER.
eating establishment, these clocks have
become mandatory.
Both the authors and the British
Museum deserve a large and comprehensive thank you for their foresight and
efforts in producing such a comprehensive
and detailed book.
Inside there are many pages of photographs, ephemera, details of styles and the
changes, market trends, and information
about the trials and tribulations suffered
by these companies in producing war time
‘material’. It also reports on their latter
efforts to produce and move on into the
post war era.
The F W Elliott Imperial 8-day three-train
Westminster chiming clock. Ⓒ The Authors
If you have a horological book you
would recommend we would love to
hear from you.
Contact: Jayne Hall
Email: editor@bwcmg.org
13
SIHH Geneva 2016
Martin Foster FBHI reports on class, quality and
stormy economic times
The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) Geneva
opened in January with the most beautiful horological creations.
But at the same time the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry
has released its 2015 export report which reflects unsettling
market conditions.
As we go to press we read that Swatch Group (who employs
more than 35,500 people in over 50 countries) net income was
21.0 per cent below the previous year due to the strong negative
impact of foreign exchange losses and the negative development
of interest rates.
Overall the Swiss industry recorded its first downturn since
2009 – the total value of watch exports was CHF21.5 billion, a
decline of 3.3 per cent compared with 2014.
Exports deteriorated steadily during 2015, falling from a 3.2
per cent increase in the first quarter to a 7.3 per cent decrease in
the fourth quarter. The second quarter dropped 6.8 per cent –
well short of its 2014 level – while the first half-year as a whole
remained slightly positive with a 0.5 per cent lift.
Symptomatic of the overall Swiss watch industry, the watch
brands that fall under the Richemont conglomerate portfolio of
luxury goods recorded a small decline in sales of four per cent in
the past six months.
However, Richemont’s other businesses, including jewellery
brands, performed strongly with total operating profit for the
group up 6 per cent.
Notwithstanding these recent movements, history records the
tough psychometric mindset of the Swiss watch industry will
endure and see the tough
period through. This was
certainly the dominant
sentiment at the 2016
Salon which ran from 18
to 22 January.
In addition to the 15
established exhibitors,
the event also welcomed
nine independent watchmakers and ‘créateurs’
that exhibited in the new From Greubel Forsey, this timepiece is
Carré des Horlogers area. the essence of refinement with its solid
Evermore complex gold dial and lower tourbillon bridge,
tourbillons,
chrono- whose ‘barrelled and polished’ surface
graphs, dive watches, requires extremely rare expertise. Each
bridge is discreetly signed by the
extra-thin watches and movement finisher who completed it.
sumptuously decorated
pieces took technical mastery, craftsmanship and pure tech and
bling to dizzying heights.
The SIHH is primarily a Richemont group luxuries event and
amongst its exhibitors are some of the most prestigious names in
the luxury industry including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget,
Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC Schaffhausen,
Greubel Forsey and Montblanc.
Next year’s SIHH will take place from 16 to 20 January 2017
at the Palexpo Convention Centre in Geneva.
VIENNA TIMEPIECE
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FRXUVHWKHRULJLQDOEOXHGVWHHOKDQGV7KH
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£2350
FRENCH MURAL CLOCK
$ UDUH GD\ WK &HQWXU\ )UHQFK PXUDO
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GLDO LV D PHUFXU\ WKHUPRPHWHU ZKLFK LV
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IROLDJHDQGÁRZHUKHDGV
£2250
By Appointment at Old Hall, Brough, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4BL
Tel: +44 (0)17683 41991
(PDLOLQIR#JNKDGÀHOGWLOO\FRXNZZZJNKDGÀHOGWLOO\FRXN
14
ORËTARI Group
Watch and Clock Specialist
Our work methods are especially designed to assist
you in giving the very best to your customers.
Suite 8, The Wokingham Business Centre
The Courthouse, Erfstadt Court, Denmark Street,
Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2YF
Tel: 0118 979 3773
Mob: 07917 406486
Email: shaujbberisha@hotmail.co.uk
Shuajb Berisha MBHI Watch and Clock Specialist
WHEEL & PINION CUTTING
Escape wheels, train
wheels, arbors
(rough and finished), motionwork, etc, either from
stock or to pattern.
Clock repair and restoration.
Write or phone for prices.
CLARKE & JONES
5 Hall Farm Buildings,
Hempnall,
Norwich,
NR15 2LJ
Tel/Fax: 01508 498939
Mobile: 07968 259452
Antique Clock & Watch Dial
Restoration and Repair
Bracket/Longcase/Wall Clocks &Watches
– Dial Re-Painting and Re-Silvering
Carriage/French Clocks & Watches
– Dial Re-Enamelling and Painting
Contact: Mark Rowe MBHI
West Dean Trained BADA Certified
Tel: 020 8605 0331
Email: ma.rowe@btopenworld.com
www.theclockgallery.co.uk
PAINTED DIAL
RESTORATION
Robert B. Loomes FBHI
Family business since 1966.
Prompt turnaround.
4 Saint Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DW
Tel: 01780 481319
Email: robertloomes@gmail.com
www.dialrestorer.co.uk
THE COMPLETE GILDING SERVICE
TO THE HOROLOGICAL TRADE
Refinishing & Burnishing
Satin & Polished Gilding
Replacement of Missing Pieces
(Over 30 years experience)
RAY WALTON (SILVERSMITH)
CREEK CREATIVE, 1 ABBEY STREET,
FAVERSHAM, KENT, ME13 7BE
TEL: 01795 538674
www.raywaltonsilversmith.co.uk
J. Malcolm Wild
Manufacturer of Special & Traditional Tools
for Clock and Watch Makers
Mainspring winder, pivot & jacot tool, clockmaker’s staking set, fusee cutting
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For full details available of these and many more
www.j-m-w.co.uk
J. Malcolm Wild FBHI, 12 Norton Green Close, Sheffield, S8 8BP
Tel: 0114 274 5693
Email: malcolm@j-m-w.co.uk
High Quality Barograph Charts
Drum size 3 1⁄2” high x 3 11⁄16” diam.
Mon or Sun start. Inch calibration
1 years supply (52 charts) £16.00 inc p&p
2 years supply (104) charts) £26.00 inc p&p
Send cheque with order made payable to L. A. BLOWES
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CLOCKWHEELS
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date wheels always in stock
30 Years Experience to Trade & Public
Tel: 01362 860545
Email: richard@rfcharman.plus.com
Church and Public Clock Specialists
Reports and quotations are undertaken free of charge
and without obligation within the UK
Tel/Fax: 01768 486933
Email: info@clockmaker.co.uk
Website: www.clockmaker.co.uk
15
Administrator’s Desk
DIARY
Solihull, near Birmingham, B92
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
March
Robert Moir
Honorary Secretary
Membership Renewals
Many thanks to all those who have promptly paid their membership renewals and submitted their survey forms. Within the next
few weeks we will be starting to compile the Green Book, so
please submit any further survey forms to me as soon as possible,
along with any more subscriptions. If you have misplaced your
renewal form just send your cheque to me along with your
membership number, or at least your name and address, and I
will do the rest.
Change of Address
Since last summer the address for the Guild has changed from
the old PO Box number, which now no longer exists, to my
address. One or two members have recently used this to submit
letters and membership renewals. The Post Office, fortunately,
has honoured this and, to my knowledge, I have received those
few communications.
From now on please send all mail to: The Secretariat, 26
Knights Close, Windsor, Berks. SL4 5QR. The Guild telephone
number is 07955 192263.
Big Ben Tour – A Visit with a Difference
It was mentioned in the last TimePiece that a proposed visit to
Big Ben was being organised. I can now confirm that this has been
arranged for Friday 8 July 2016 and arrival time will be 2.00pm
at Portcullis House. I will be there as a point of contact.
The day and time have been carefully chosen so that visitors
will be in the Tower when the bell strikes 3.00pm. Friday is normally a ‘non sitting’ day for Government and our guide, Catherine
Moss, who always gives an excellent tour is hoping that the House
of Commons and the House of Lords will be available for us to
visit.
As always places are limited and will be first come first served,
with a reserve list. Please contact me as soon as possible to book
a place as this promises to be a popular tour.
Robert Moir
Email: sec@bwcmg.org
GUILD DIRECTORS: Chairman: Chris Papworth MBHI; Immediate
Past Chairman: Paul Roberson FBHI; Vice Chairman: Robert Moir;
Treasurer: Lionel Blowes FBHI; Honorary Secretary: Robert Moir; Vice
Presidents: Angus Matheson, Lionel Blowes, William Hill, Jean Jones;
Directors: Manny Bramsden, Robert Ball, Roy Hunt, David Pay, Keith
Scobie-Youngs; TimePiece and Web Editor Jayne Hall.
Guild Communications to: Robert Moir, 26 Knights Close, Windsor,
Berks, SL4 5QR. Tel: 07955 192263. Email: sec@bwcmg.org Website:
www.bwcmg.org
16
13 Midlands Clock and Watch Fair
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, Near Birmingham, B92
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
17-24 Baselworld
20 West Country Clock & Watch
Fairs, Taunton Holiday Inn, M5 Jct
25, Deane Gate Avenue, Taunton,
Somerset, TA1 2UA. 9am-3pm.
www.westcountryclockfairs.co.uk
April
10 Brunel Clock and Watch Fair,
Sports Hall, Brunel University,
Uxbirdge, UB8 3PN
17 Northern Clock and Watch
Fairs, Haydock Park, M6 Junction
23/A580
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
May
8 Essex Watch and Clock Fair,
Marks Tey, Colchester.
15 Midlands Clock & Watch Fair
National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, Near Birmingham, B92
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
June
26 Northern Clock and Watch
Fairs, Haydock Park, M6 Junction
23/A580
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
July
8 Guild visit to Big Ben, contact Bob
Moir for details
17 Midlands Clock & Watch Fair,
National Motorcycle Museum,
September
6-10 HKTDC Hong Kong Watch &
Clock Fair
11 Brunel Clock and Watch Fair,
Sports Hall, Brunel University,
Uxbirdge, UB8 3PN
18 Northern Clock and Watch
Fairs, Haydock Park, M6 Junction
23/A580
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
October
9 Essex Watch and Clock Fair,
Marks Tey, Colchester.
30 Midlands Clock and Watch Fair,
National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, Near Birmingham, B92
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
November
6 West Country Clock & Watch
Fairs, Taunton Holiday Inn, M5 Jct
25, Deane Gate Avenue, Taunton,
Somerset, TA1 2UA. 9am-3pm.
www.westcountryclockfairs.co.uk
20 Northern Clock and Watch
Fairs, Haydock Park, M6 Junction
23/A580
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
December
11 Brunel Clock and Watch Fair,
Sports Hall, Brunel University,
Uxbirdge, UB8 3PN
18 Northern Clock and Watch
Fairs, Haydock Park, M6 Junction
23/A580
www.clockandwatchfairs.co.uk
GUILD BOARD MEETINGS 2016
The following Guild Board Meetings will take place
during 2016. All meetings are held at Friends House,
173-177 Euston Road, London, starting at 2pm
Thursday 12 May
Thursday 11 August
Thursday 10 November
All welcome
The British Watch & Clock Makers’ Guild is a Company Limited by
Guarantee. Registered in England & Wales No 4613321. Registered
Office: 1 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4BZ.
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those of the officers and council of the Guild and no responsibility is
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