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A Brief History of Waltham Clock Co. the Waltham Historical Society, Inc

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A Brief History of Waltham Clock Co. the Waltham Historical Society, Inc May 2009 The Newsletter of Volume 6, Issue 3 The Waltham Historical Society, Inc. The Waltham Historical Society The Edmund L. Sanderson Lecture Series 190 MOODY STREET WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS A Brief History of Waltham Clock Co. Board of Directors 2007-2009 Mr. Andrew Dervan Tuesday, Co-Presidents: Sheila E. FitzPatrick In 1890, Walter J. Dudley May 12, 2009 Wayne T. McCarthy and Walter K. Menns began 7:00 pm in the Community Room work on an electric (battery Treasurer: powered) clock in John Starks at RTN Federal Credit Union John W. Cox shop in Waltham, MA. They 600 Main Street, Waltham convinced a group of Natick, Assistant Treasurer: Mary Selig MA investors to form the Waltham Electric Clock Com- Clock Company held an- The Company continued Recording Secretary: pany in New Hampshire on other board meeting and until the death of William Vacant June 5, 1890. A factory was agreed to sell the business to Henry in January 1913. Af- setup in Natick and the first William Henry. John Stark ter William Henry’s death Corresponding Secretary: clock was sold in early 1891. would become President of John Stark and Thomas Joe Vizard In April 1891 a group of the new corporation and Shepherd purchased his in- Waltham investors took over William Henry would be- terest of the business. On Curator: the company and moved it come the Treasurer and February 27, 1914 they Joan M. Sheridan back to John Stark’s shop in Manager. signed the papers transfer- Assistant Curator: Waltham. In November 1898, the ring all good will, stock, Winifred W. Kneisel In January 1893 Waltham Waltham Clock Company Electric Clock Co. introduced reorganized and elected new Board Members a weight driven precision officers: John Stark, Presi- Andrew H. (Andy) Dervan Ruth M. Arena regulator clock. American dent; William Henry, Treas- Marie Daly Waltham Watch Co. pur- Andrew H. (Andy) Dervan began urer and Business Manager; collecting antique clocks in 1997. Two Carol DiFranco chased an early regulator for and Thomas W. Shephard, of the first clocks he purchased were Louise Hamilton banjo clocks from the Waltham Clock the 1893 World’s Fair exhibit Mechanical Superintendent. Company. Reviewing the published Lucille M. Hanna to control the watch making The company was ready to literature of the time revealed very little Virginia Hays machinery. In June 1894, the introduce a new Hall Clock information on them or on the Gardner Hayward Waltham Clock Company. The lack of Board of Directors voted to designed by Mr. Henry and real information on these clocks Morton Isaacson prompted him to initiate research on Larry Logan change the company’s name a new synchronized time the topic. With encouragement from a to the Waltham Clock Com- system, and planned to offer few collector friends, he began serious Barbara Maloney study on the subject. Frank Maloney pany. The company quickly a complete line of regula- Mr. Dervan grew up in Dedham Massachusetts, graduated with B.A. in David L. Smith acquired a reputation for tors, and office and marine Chemistry from Bridgewater State Col- Michael Squillante manufacturing high precision clocks. lege. After graduation he moved to Kentucky, and then to Michigan, weight driven regulators that This new partnership where he received a M.A. in Chemistry were used by many compa- appeared very successful, from the University of Detroit. Mr. Dervan’s professional career has Inside this issue: nies, including American because many newspaper spanned over thirty years in Research Waltham Watch Co., as their articles and other publica- & Development with Celanese Corpo- ration, Ford Motor Co., and DuPont Waltham Clock Continued 2 master clocks. tions highlighted the com- Performance Coatings, developing a At the January 1897 Board variety of OEM automotive coatings. pany’s success. Waltham He has been awarded 32 U.S. patents House Tour 2007 2 Meeting all investors agreed Clock Co. chiming hall for new coating resins and paint for- to drop out (except for John clocks became a big seller mulations. Lill Movsessian Dinner 3 Mr. Dervan emphasized the impor- Stark) because the company for the company, along with tance of the role played by his wife, Linda, in supporting and encouraging his Elections Notice 3 continued losing money. Sev- large and small regulators research projects. Her patience with his eral days later the Waltham and Willard banjo clocks. research has contributed to his success. Calendar 4 Page 2 Volume 6, Issue 3 Waltham Clock Company (continued from page 1) House Tour 2009: completed and in-process materials, and machinery to Waltham Watch We Need Company. Waltham Watch Co. increased its Your Home! product offerings and maintained Waltham Clock Company as a sepa- rate department to capitalize on its Our Annual House Tour is now in the Enclosed with this newsletter are recognized name for quality. After the final planning stage! Last year’s homes forms to show your support by becom- 1925 Waltham Watch Co. reorganiza- were unique and the homeowners were ing a Friend or Business Friend for this tion, the separate clock department enthusiastic throughout the event. year’s Tour. Fill out the form and mail was abolished. Please consider having your home in- it back to us with your check as soon as Please note: Doors to the Credit cluded on this year’s tour. Call us and we possible, and we will list your name in Union will open at 6:30 pm, and will will have a member of our House Tour in the Tour Book. be locked at 7:15 pm. Please, arrive Committee contact you with details. There are many other ways you can before 7:15 to avoid missing this in- Waltham’s treasure trove of homes al- help us. Open your house as a stop on formative lecture. ways generates an interest in preserving the tour, or serve as docent at one of For information call the fine examples of historical architec- the homes on the day of the tour. 617-448-6706 or email ture and modern tastes in design and If you prefer a professional listing, or [email protected]. decorating. advertisement please contact us and we Our House Tour books have become will gladly create an ad. Our member- collectors’ items that provide snapshots ship mailing goes to 300 members, en- Waltham Historical Commission of the City’s homes every year. Please suring that your name will be seen by April 13, 2009 consider becoming a Friend of the them six times, as well as being posted Submitted by Laura Bernstein Waltham Historical Society by making a on the Society’s web site. Archie Bennett's report: donation using the enclosed form, or re- Once again this year, Mr. Joe Con- --no demolition signoffs of historically-relevant prop- ferring us to a local business that can nors and the RTN Federal Credit union erties --CPA/CPC funding of Wellington House, St. benefit by having their information listed are to be commended for their gener- Mary's Church, & St. Charles Church continues on our web site, in our tour book, and in ous support of this popular event. in process. every issue of the Historical Society’s --Fernald School. It appears that the state (DCAM) is purposefully neglecting appropriately securing these newsletter for a year. buildings, with the possible intention of having them demolished & thus saving mothballing costs. WHC voted to write DCAM & MHC protesting Business Friends of the Waltham Historical Society this situation, and also to write the Mayor's Office, warning of risks to Police & Fire Depts. Brasco & Sons Memorial Chapels Laura M. Cannon, Esq. New England Historic Genealogical --546 Moody St. Developer has requested permission Belmont / Waltham Foster & Cannon Attorneys, P.C. Society to demolish this & 6 other near-by structures to build 685 Main Street 101 Newbury Street a Federally-chartered bank. Application for demoli- Chateau Restaurant Waltham, MA 02451 Boston, MA 02116 195 School Street www.NewEnglandAncestors.org tion will probably trigger a Federal review of 546 Waltham, MA 02451-4545 Delaney & Delaney, Moody St. If not, the Demolition Delay Ordinance Attorneys at Law Stack Chiropractic Office will probably be applicable. WHC will write a letter Civil War Round Table of Greater 564 Main Street / Waltham, MA Dr. Roberta Stack Boston 781-893-2233 42 Weston Street, Waltham, MA of comment to MHC. 3 Waverley Oaks Road, #202 J.J. Hayes Oil Co., Inc. 02453 / 781-891-1722 —Carl Zinnell's report on CPA/CPC: Backlogs Waltham, MA 02452 595 Lexington Street continue; there are 24 recent applications with the Waltham, MA 02452-3031 Waltham Land Trust, Inc. City Council. Community Mapping, Inc. 781-893-7145 240 Beaver Street 872 Mass. Ave., Suite 1-6, Waltham, MA 02454 —David Smith's report on 2009-2010 WHC budget: Cambridge, MA 02139 Marcou Jewelers TERRIBLE! The squeeze on Waltham is particularly 318 Moody Street acute. No non-emergency projects; cuts will come Constructions Collaborative, Inc. Waltham, MA 02453 out of Stonehurst. Stonehurst's rental rates, which the P.O. Box 541015 99 Hammond Street Kathy McMenimen Mayor controls, were discussed at length. Waltham, MA 02454-1015 City Councillor —There were 3 non-controversial zoning changes/ cell tower applications signed off on. May 2009 Page 3 Lill Movsessian Dinner a night for memories! The Waltham Historical Waltham High School Principal John Clerk Peter Koutoujian, as well as many Society’s fundraiser in Graceffa and Centennial Scholarship Founda- other long-time community dignitaries. memory of Lillian tion representative Gail Cormier spoke of Lill’s A plaque created in the Career and Everett Movsessian was organizational skills and her work to bring Technical Education programs at held on Tuesday, April scholarship opportunities to many student Waltham High School was presented 28, 2009 in the Green Room of the Chateau graduates of Waltham High School.
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