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October 2009
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We can’t believe how quickly the months have passed!
Our summer was filled with visits with family and friends and some selective buying for the upcoming Fall antiques shows.
One of our most enjoyable excursions was a combined business/pleasure trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan. This June trip avoided the bad weather that plagued the Northeast for the most part of the early summer. Grand Rapids is a lovely city and very pedestrian friendly. It is only 30 minutes away from the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, dotted with small towns, artist colonies and resorts. |
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Each year, the National Watch and Clock Collectors Association (NAWCC), holds a national convention somewhere in the United States.
This year in Grand Rapids for four days, thousands of clock dealers and collectors gathered to share information and buy and sell a variety of clocks and watches. The convention center is approximate to the Amway hotel, a beautifully restored four star facility, where most of us stayed in utter luxury!
The convention program consisted of seminars, workshops, an auction, an exhibit, buyer-seller mart and, of course, a lot of socializing. The mart is noteworthy because it usually consists of 1000-1500 tables of clocks, watches, parts, repair machinery and related horology memorabilia. It can be a treasure trove of long sought and hard to find items. Needless to say, we were able to add to our inventory.
The NAWCC is an organization dedicated to the distribution and maintenance of information and knowledge about antique clocks and watches along with the development of technical skills to make, maintain and restore horologic objects. If we have stirred your curiosity, go to www.nawcc.org |
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Our trip included time to explore points of interest along the way, including historic sites, museums and galleries. Most memorable was a day spent at the Toledo Museum of Art and its new Glass Pavilion. The art collection consists of over 700 paintings and sculptures by prominent American and European artists. The glass collection chronicles the history of glass over the course of 3500 years. There is a glass blowing studio with daily demonstrations. A very worthwhile stop. |
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Returning from the convention, we stopped at Dearborn, Michigan at the southern end of Detroit on Lake Huron and spent two days touring Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum as well as the Museum IMAX theater. |
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It was an exciting, delightful and informative experience at each.
The Village is a 90 acre “community” tracing 300 years of American history at 9 historic districts within convenient walking distances over lovely grounds or riding in horse drawn carriages and vintage buses.
Sites include Ford’s birthplace, Wright’s bicycle shop, Edison’ s factory, Noah Webster house and George Washington Carver’s cabin. Skilled artisans and costumed performances provide both information and entertainment throughout the Village. An old fashioned ice cream break didn’t hurt either! |
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The Museum is worth the trip all by itself. While it features the evolution of the automobile and the transportation industry, it also traces the industrial revolution and the ingenious, determined people who created it. The permanent exhibits feature beautiful cars, airplanes, furniture and the mechanical means to accomplish it all. The Oscar Mayer Mobile was also displayed and, of course, there was a lunch counter selling hot dogs, of which we took advantage!
The IMAX theater dazzled! It had a six storied screen, and state of the art surround sound system. Movies were new releases and documentaries on a rotating basis. |
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We concluded on the way home, that we will continue to spend time learning and improving skills in our chosen profession, but we also need to take time to see the wonders around us in this beautiful country. It is certainly part of “getting out of the doldrums” of a tough financial time.
Hopefully, our economy is on the mend and all of you antique lovers will be again looking for those special objects that make your life beautiful and exceptional!
See you at the Fall antiques shows!
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