Meeting, Mart, Speakers, Silent Auction, 50/50 Raffle and Luncheon
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Auburn Elks Lodge 2118
754 Southbridge Street
Auburn, MA 01501

To Register: REGISTER HERE

BECAUSE OF SOME CHANGES IN PROCEDURE AT THE ELKS LODGE, WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR REGISTRATION BY SEPTEMBER 30th TO AVOID INCURRING A SURCHARGE. Please register ASAP.

If you intend to use the registration form included HERE, mail it to Rick Saul at the address on the bottom of the form and email him at treasurer@nawcc8.org so that it arrives by October 5th.

8:00 AM to 8:30 AM
Mart Set-Up

Hall opens for Mart exhibitors only. A limit of two tables per exhibitor is included in the registration fee, but you must let us know how many tables you would like.

8:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Registration and Mart

Nametags are available for pre-registered members. Walk-in registration begins but availability for luncheon may be limited if not pre-registered. Mart will close at 11:45 AM.

8:30 AM to 11:55 AM
Special "Silent" Auction Ending with a Live Auction

This will be a special “silent” auction.  From 8:30 am until 11:45 am there will be bidding on sheets at the silent auction table. Beginning at 11:45 am, our resident auctioneer, Rich Pompeo, will entertain live bids for all items on the tables, thereby hoping to increase the bids.  There will be no fee for entry, so bring your items!  It will be at the seller’s discretion to make any portion of their proceeds to the Chapter. We hope you find this an easy way to sell just a few items.

 

10:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Presentations

Tom Vaughn -  “Tom’s Clock Making Tools – The Lathe, Gear Cutting Machine, and Other Artifact Tools”

Tom Vaughn is an early-American musical instrument historian and clockmaker. Tom was formally trained as a master luthier- someone who builds, restores, and conserves instruments in the violin family. In addition to instrument conservation, Tom is also one of Connecticut's last clockmakers, and he carries on the trade of wooden clock making, crafting whole clock mechanisms using only historical tools and practices. Tom has a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Art focusing on Curating. He has worked for several museums including the New England Carousel Museum, American Clock & Watch Museum, and most recently Old Sturbridge Village where he was the coordinator of Music, Visual Arts and Performing Arts. Tom currently works as a conservator of pipe organs. He is a board member at the American Clock & Watch Museum, and vice-president of the Plymouth Connecticut Historical Society. 

Tom will bring his exact copy of a clockmaker's lathe. The original machine was made after 1806 for Eli Terry's clock factory in Plymouth Connecticut. Tom spent over a year replicating this machine. Instead of water power, Tom has created a treadle power source to power the lathe. See how rough-cut pieces of wood can be turned into extremely fine, delicate and accurate clock parts.
Tom's gear cutting machine is a copy of those used by Connecticut's earliest clockmakers. This hand powered mechanism precisely cuts out wood and brass into perfect gears. 
A variety of other original artifact tools like bow lathes, drills, pliers, vises, calipers, gravers tools, blow torches, and more will be presented.
 

Howard Cohen - "ONE OF THE FIRST CLOCKMAKERS FROM CHARLESTON, SC"

Howard has a background in public health with a Master’s and Doctorate from the University of Michigan.  He worked in industry for 16 years as an industrial hygienist and then taught at the University of New Haven and Yale University.  Howard began collecting clocks in 1977 and has been President of the American Clock and Watch Museum where he continues participating on their Artifacts and Governance Committees. He is a member of the NAWCC Symposium committee and helped organize the past National meeting in Springfield, MA and the Symposium in Sturbridge, MA.
Howard’s collecting interest includes clocks from the US, England, France and Germany.  In recent years he focuses on American dwarf tall clocks made in PA and MA and Bracket clocks made in England and the US. Today’s talk is about one of the first clockmakers from Charleston, SC.

12:00 Noon
Buffet Luncheon

1:30 PM
Adjourn



Up Coming Events – Save the Dates!

Split Second and Freezing Time Exhibit: Sunday, November 8, 2026. Join members of Chapter 8 and Mass. Watchmakers-Clockmakers Association at a special curator-guided exhibit at the MIT Museum.  Admission is limited to 20 people.  Details to follow.  See this article:  Horology at the MIT Museum  

New England Regional in Concord, New Hampshire April 23rd and 24th, 2027

Annual Willard House Workshop and Mart, May 22, 2027.

Chapter 8 Members

On December 1, 2025, dues notices went to members whose membership expired on December 31, 2025. Dues may be paid by logging into the website. Members who have forgotten their login credentials can press the Member Login button on the upper left panel, then press the Forgot My Username/Password button, and your credentials will be sent to your email address on file. Dues may be paid by credit card, PayPal, or check sent to the Chapter.

Chapter 8 hopes you will maintain your membership with NAWCC (nawcc.org) and take advantages of the many services offered by the national organization.