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The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) is an American non-profit organization with about 13,000 members.[1]
The NAWCC was founded in 1943 by members of the Horological Society of New York and the Philadelphia Watchmakers' Guild who wished to create a national organization. Many of the members participate in the over 160 "Chapters" which can be based on a locality or a special interest; i.e., the local chapter for New York is Chapter 2 and the Tower Clock Chapter is Chapter 134. The vast majority of chapters are US location based, a number are also in Canada, China, Australia or Japan. Special interest chapters range from "British Horology" to "Horological Science". Today the NAWCC is the largest horological membership organisation in the world, and
Annually the Ward Francillon Time Symposium is held in late October, where eminent speakers present their research on a focused topic.
A bi-monthly Watch & Clock Bulletin and its Mart and Highlights supplement (containing both association news and scholarly articles on horology) are published, and local, regional and national meetings are held.
The National Watch and Clock Museum was founded in 1977 by the NAWCC, and now has not only a major collection horological artefacts, and operates the only specialized horological library in the world's open to the public, staffed by specialized horological libraryans. Museum, library (National Watch and Clock Library) and headquarters are located in Columbia, PA. The NAWCC also runs numerous education programs for both professionals and enthusiasts, including watch and clock repair, evaluation of timepieces etc.
The NAWCC also has a Bulletin board system[1] with over millions of annual visitors, where both members and non-members of the association may ask questions on watches and clocks to experts.
Its main sister organisations in other countries pursuing similar goals are:
- Antiquarian Horological Society - AHS (United Kingdom)
- Association Française des Amateurs d'Horlogerie Ancienne - AFAHA (France)
- Chronometrophilia (Switzerland)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie - DGC (Germany)
- HORA Associazione Italiana Cultori di Orologeria Antica (Italy)
References
- ^ TOM KNAPP. "National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, based at Columbia museum, selects new director". lancasteronline.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.