 About the Cover
The front cover includes an image of the new 10 cent American Clock stamp. The clock shown on the stamp is an artistic rendering of a Willard patent timepiece, perhaps inspired by the clock shown beside it on the cover. In 1985, NAWCC members started working to influence the United States Postal Service to issue a stamp series commemorating America's watch and clock makers. An article by Arlene J. Bizlewicz in the December 1989 Bulletin stated that a list of 6,000 names had so far been sent to the postal service in support of the cause, with the hope that the list would eventually exceed 10,000. On January 24, 2003, the efforts of these thousands of American watch and clock enthusiasts resulted in the issuance of the new American clock stamp. Official unveiling ceremonies of the new stamp were held in Tucson, Arizona, at ARIPEX, a national convention held by the United Postal Stationery Society. The NAWCC was represented at the ceremonies by Southern Arizona Chapter 113 President James Martin, Past President Darrel Frazier, Secretary William Wightman, and Valley of the Sun Chapter President Galen Gudenkauf. The Unites States Postal Service also presented the Museum in Columbia, PA with an enlarged and beautifully framed rendering of the stamp. The ceremony for this presentation, which was held in the Museum near the patent timepiece collection, included Museum Trustee President Ralph Fletcher, who accepted the artwork on behalf of the Museum, executive committee members, School of Horology students, volunteers and employees. The Simon Willard timepiece shown on the cover was made about 1805. The wall timepieces were invented by Roxbury, MA, clockmaker Simon Willard and were patented by him in 1802. They contain a quality 8-dqy weight-driven brass movement behind a round painted iron dial, a tapered throat section, and a rectangular lower pendulum box. Willard's distinctive case design also features colorful reverse painted glass panels enclosed in mahogany crossbanded frames and decorated with brass sidearms and eagle finial. This patent timepiece was once owned by Simon Willard's great grandson, John Ware Willard, and is depicted in his 1911 book, A history of Simon Willard, Inventor and Clockmaker. Photo of the Willard patent timepiece courtesy of Paul J. Foley from his book, Willard's Patented Time Pieces: A History of the Weight-Driven Banjo Clock, 1800-1900, published by Roxbury Village Publishing, Norwell, MA. The patent timepiece description was also supplied by Paul J. Foley. |
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