NORTH READING — Earlier this year, Andover resident Bob Frishman generously donated his services to restore the Flint Memorial Library’s antique Caleb Wheaton longcase clock, now ticking and striking the hours on the building’s second floor.
The public is invited to join Frishman for an illustrated presentation about the clock and his work on it, including details and images about clockmaking in general in colonial and early-Federal New England. It will be held in the Activity Room of the Flint Memorial Library, 147 Park St. on Thursday, October 9 from 6-7:30 p.m.
It is hoped that after his talk library patrons will appreciate knowing a bit more about this important part of the Flint Memorial Library’s history, which dates back to 1875 when Harriet N. Flint donated the building to the town in memory of her beloved husband, Charles Flint.
This talk is offered in collaboration with the Flint Memorial Library and the North Reading Historical & Antiquarian Society.
It is free but registration is required. Go to the library’s events calendar page to register online (flintmemoriallibrary.org), call 979-664-4942, or sign up in person.
BRING YOUR WIND-UP CLOCKS!
Registrants are welcome to bring old windup clocks and watches (no modern battery or plug-in timekeepers, please!) that they would like more information on during a “Roadshow” like talk following the program.
Frishman will also have copies of his recently published award-winning comprehensive biography: “Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentleman, 1730-1803” to sell and sign. The library also owns and circulates a copy of his book.
The founder of Bell-Time Clocks in 1992, Frishman has repaired 8,000 mechanical clocks and has sold 1,800 vintage timepieces. He is now retired from clock repair and is not accepting further restoration business. He writes and lectures about the history, culture, and technology of horology — the science of timekeeping. He has published 150 related articles and reviews, and he has lectured to more than 100 public audiences.
He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers (London, UK), a Silver Star Fellow of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and co-chair of its annual New England Regional Meeting, an active member of the Antiquarian Horological Society (London, UK), a Life Member of the Willard House & Clock Museum, Proprietor No.28 of the Boston Athenaeum, Shareholder No.8 of the Library Company of Philadelphia, and a member of the American Antiquarian Society, the Grolier Club, and the Ross Society of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.