The NAWCC Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mr. Rory McEvoy has been named Executive Director of the NAWCC. Rory is an internationally renowned horological scholar and comes to the NAWCC with strong credentials that solidly align with our education, fundraising, and membership growth objectives. He has a postgraduate degree in the conservation and restoration of antique clocks from West Dean College, and throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to handle some of the world’s most important horological artifacts, including longitude timekeepers by Harrison, Kendall, and Mudge.
Rory formerly worked as Curator of Horology at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, where his role included day-to-day management of research and digitization projects, writing, public speaking, conservation, convening conferences, exhibition work, and development of acquisition/disposal and collection care policies. In addition, he has worked as a horological specialist at Bonhams in London, where he cataloged and handled many rare timepieces and built important relationships with collectors, buyers, and sellers. Most recently, Rory has used his talents to share his love of horology at the university level by teaching horological theory, history, and the practical repair and making of clocks and watches at Birmingham City University.
Rory is a British citizen and currently resides in the UK. Pre-COVID-19, Rory and his wife, Kaai, visited HQ in Columbia, Pennsylvania, where they met with staff, spent time in the Museum and Library & Research Center, and toured the area. Rory and Kaai will be relocating to the area as soon as the immigration challenges and travel restrictions due to COVID-19 permit.
Some of you may already be familiar with Rory as he is also a well-known author and lecturer. His recent publications include the book Harrison Decoded: Towards a Perfect Pendulum Clock, which he edited with Jonathan Betts, and the article “George Graham and the Orrery” in the journal Nuncius.
Until Rory’s relocation to the United States is complete, he will be working closely with an on-boarding team assembled by the NAWCC Board of Directors to introduce him to the opportunities and challenges before us and to ensure a smooth transition. Rory will be participating in strategic and financial planning immediately, which will allow him to hit the ground running when he arrives in Columbia
You can read more about Rory McEvoy and this exciting announcement in the upcoming March/April issue of the Watch & Clock Bulletin.
Please join the entire Board and staff in welcoming Rory to the NAWCC community.
I suggested the new parts because there is a fairly large chunk missing from one of the pallets. If everything was aligned perfectly, and the escape wheel teeth only made contact with the center of the pallet, I guess that wouldn’t be an issue, but most of the pallet wear I’ve seen on clocks is usually off-center like this one. I’ve never had a verge that was worn this badly, and never replaced one, but they all seem to have that sweet spot where they like to ride.
Well, the anchor is in rough shape and the replacement escape wheel does have 30 teeth like the original. If the depthing is ok and they can be mounted on the arbors easily, the new ones may work. The price seems ok. I guess I would try to repair the originals first and if it doesn’t work, order the new ones. Let us know what you do.
Over the years I have equipped myself for all Horological repairs that are almost always easily done on a small Lathe and Milling machine. While you may or may not be equipped with a lathe and compatible Mill, I will explain in case you are.
The matching set was my first suggestion. It needs some machining and drilling, but looks easier to me than the other methods.
