A Med & Transatlantic Study Cruise

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Mon, Aug 29: Guildford - Croydon - Guildford (B)

  Following breakfast at the hotel, we depart from Guilford to visit Ted Brown’s collection of mechanical music. Ted has offered to have an Open House for those who did not see his collection during our Annual Meeting. If our group participants have seen Ted’s collection, we shall visit the private collection of music boxes of Mohan Fernando, member of the MBSGB who lives in Croydon, outside of London. Here we will have to split in two groups; while one visits the collection, the other group will visit the nearby Hever Castle, childhood home to Anne Boleyn, Henry the VIII second wife. View Tudor portraits, tapestries and furniture, the Italian Rose garden, the water maze and the 35 acres lake. Late return to our Guilford hotel for an independent dinner.

Tue, Aug 30: Guildford (B, L)

  This morning we travel a nearby village to see Jack Henley's collection of mechanical music - an impressive private compilation of organ & orchestral musical boxes, also a fine collection of early musical time pieces and antique British cars - Aston Martins, Bentleys, Jaguars, etc. We will spend the entire day in Jack's village, with lunch included in today's activities. Afternoon return by motor coach to our hotel.

Wed, Aug 31: Guilford - Dorset Fair - Salisbury (B, D)

  This morning we checkout of the hotel in Guildford and drive directly to Blandford Forum, site of the Great Dorset Steam Fair to attend the 37^th GDSF the leading event of this type in Europe. It is held on a mammoth 600 acre site at South Down, Tarrant Hinton, in Dorset and is regularly attended by over 200,000 visitors from both the UK and abroad. The entire day is spent at the fair. Independent lunch. We depart in the late afternoon for nearby Salisbury, where we check-in and enjoy a group dinner at our hotel's restaurant.

Thu, Sept 1: Salisbury - Dorset Fair (B)

  A second full day spent at the Steam Fair. The aim of the Great Dorset Steam Fair is to give the public an insight into what the English way of life looked like in the country at the turn of the century when steam power was in its heyday. To do this they assemble each year probably the largest collection of steam and vintage equipment to be seen anywhere in the world and take visitors on a giant trip of nostalgia into the days of yesteryear. We will return in the late afternoon to our hotel in Salisbury area.

Fri, Sept 2: Salisbury - Cotswolds - Cambridge area (B, D)

  Morning drive into the Cotswolds (from the "wold" meaning hillside) a charming area dotted with delightful villages such as Burford and Castle Combe. Above all, the local honey-colored limestone, used for everything from the stone floors in the houses to the tiles on the roof, has ensured that the area's magical uniformity of architecture. Here we will see 'Drystone walls' everywhere in the fields. Many were built in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, an important historical landscape and a major conservation feature - and are of course still used by farmers to enclose sheep and cattle. We are here to see Keith Harding's World of Mechanical Music, a special place in the heart of England noted for traditional standards of British craftsmanship and hospitality. This is a unique collection of self-playing musical instruments presented as a live entertainment. There is also a large range of books on clocks and mechanical music, as well as recordings. Here are also what has been described as "the best gift shop in the Cotswolds", and the world famous restoration workshops, which serve discerning collectors like us, from all over the world.

  In the afternoon, continue to the St Albans to see the Organ Museum, based on the collection of the late Charles Hart-Mortier, Bursens and Decap organs; also music boxes, pianos and two pipe organs. A special concert will be presented to our group. Late afternoon check-in at our hotel in Cambridge area for a group dinner and overnight.

Sat, Sept 3: Cambridge - Lincoln (B)

  Following breakfast at the hotel we ride north to the university town of Lincoln, dominated by a magnificent castle and a Cathedral goes back to 11th Century. We are here to see Roy and Mary Ison's superb private collection of mechanical music. A 1772 English and 2 French Chamber Barrel Organs, key wind boxes, etc are just some of Roy's pieces. Late return to the hotel for an independent dinner

Sun, Sept 4: Cambridge - Stowmarket - Fakenham (B, D)

  Morning visit of the Mechanical Music Museum & Bygones at Cotton, near Stowmarket - a veritable Aladdin's cave, full of musical treasures. Fair organs, reed and barrel organs as well as a giant café organ are displayed together with street pianos, pianolas, cylinder boxes, polyphons and organettes. The piece de resistence is the mighty Wurlitzer, built in Brooklyn, NY in 1926 which was used in the Leicester Square Theatre until 1980s.

  Our second visit of the day is the Thursford Collection near Fakenham; here are lots and lots of wonderful mechanical music machines, and an old merry-go-round. The organs range from mid-sized up to huge dance organs. Our guide will be George Cushing, the Director.

  Return to our hotel for a Farewell Dinner with unlimited wine for those ending the tour here - a befitting conclusion to this remarkable trip.

Mon, Sept 5: Cambridge - London - USA or
Cambridge - York (B, D)

  A morning transfer to London Airport(s) by private motor coach will be arranged for those participants who wish to take the short tour ending today. The rest of the group will continue north, traveling to York, via the Cumbrian Lake District. We arrive in the afternoon in charming medieval York ( the formerViking Jorvik). Check-in at our hotel for a group dinner and overnight.

Tue, Sept 6: York (B)

  This morning we have a treat for you - visit theYork Museum of Mechanical Music - Director and Curator Andrew Pilmer has offered to show us some instruments he is working on, although the museum is closed. This afternoon we have an orientation drive around this charming city including the famed Minster (Cathedral) and St Mary's Abbey, with time for independent sightseeing or shopping. Independent dinner in York.

Wed, Sept 7: York - Edinburgh (B, D)

  Continue our drive North to Bowes Castle, to see the famed Silver Swan, perhaps the most known and best loved object in the museum. It is a musical automaton in the form of a life-size model of a swan, comprising a clockwork mechanism covered in silver plumage above a music box. The museum also houses collections of European fine and decorative arts, a suite of English period rooms and the newly refurbished John and Joséphine Galleries. Afternoon arrival to Edinburgh, allegedly the most beautiful city in the UK.

Thu, Sept 8: Edinburgh (B)

  This morning we travel outside the city to view the Stirling castle rock, strategically guarding the Forth river valley and surrounding central Scotland. Visit the Great Hall, King's Old Building, the Royal Chapel and the Palace. There will also be time to see the famed Falkirk Wheel; this is a remarkable and elegant mechanical marvel is the only rotating boat lift in the world and truly one of a kind.

Fri, Sept 9: Edinburgh - Inverness - Edinburgh (B)

  A long, yet rewarding day will include a scenic drive to Inverness, a most charming seaside town. Here we visit Automatomania, at the invitation of Michael and Maria Start, members of the MBSGB. Independent lunch and time for shopping in this charming town, much appreciated by English visitors, before returning to Edinburgh.

Sat, Sept 10: Edinburgh - Glasgow - Edinburgh (B, D)

  Our trip today takes us to Scotland's second city - Glasgow, where we will include a visit of Sharmanka - the Russian modern kinetic theater. Here, hundreds of tiny carved figures and pieces of old scrap perform an incredible choreography to haunting music and synchronized lighting, telling the funny and tragic stories of the struggle of the human spirit against the relentless circles of life and death. Return to Edinburgh for our traditional Farewell Dinner with unlimited wine - a befitting closure to a remarkable trip.

Sun, Sept 11: Edinburgh - USA (B, L, S)

  This morning we are transferred to Edinburgh Airport for our return flight home. Complimentary meal service and a complimentary headset will be offered aboard. Arrive in New York (or your USA gateway) the same day in the afternoon.

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  This past August a group of 25 Chapter members, from places as far apart as New York and New Jersey to Arizona and California, congregated for a 2-week journey across Central Europe, from the shores of the Baltic to the high ridges of Black Forest.

  Our first stop was the tri-city area of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot, on the Baltic, where a flea market and antique Dominican Fair is being held every summer since 1269… Although the fair activity was a bit disappointing and "antique" was a euphemism for "junk", we saw some brisk trading in amber, a tower clock museum, the longest wooden pier in the resort of Sopot, the largest crane of medieval Europe (Gdansk = Danzig was a member of the Hanseatic League) and even had time to attend a Baroque Church organ concert.

  Our next stop was cosmopolitan Berlin, the new and reunited capital of Germany. Here we also had an excellent hotel, right in the heart of the city. A full day of sightseeing of the East and West halves of this schizophrenic place, brought us to speed with what is happening in the German capital - replete with wonderful, modern buildings and monuments, the city is nevertheless, financially broke. A morning trip to Potsdam, where we toured the very rooms the Americans, Russians and British delegations signed the postwar agreement was followed by a visit of the LorenZ store and museum. Young Jens Lorenz, a fourth generation horologist, showed us the most interesting exhibits in the museum under their watch store, while we had "treats" served to us. Mr. Lorenz is also responsible for the "Berlin Peace Clock", a timepiece of special significance in connection with the fall of the Berlin Wall - a separate article of this topic will probably be feature soon in the Bulletin.

  Our saga across Germany took us to Leipzig of JS Bach fame, where we feared we lost our Californians. Hellas, their disappearance was only due to the difference in time zones! and they soon took their place in the bus. Dresden proved to be "the most" town in our itinerary. Our charming and able local guide instructed us "all things were invented or began in Dresden" (not Eden!). Just about everything, according to Christine, was invented, perfected, brought to life or fame because of a Dresdener. We hit the city at Beer Festival time and spent some quality time sampling the brews together with the finger-licking wursts (invented, naturally, here). We also spent a most interesting afternoon in the Zwinger Castle, viewing the Mathematical-Physical Salon, a horology and scientific instruments museum, guided by their resourceful Curator, Dr. Peter Plassmeyer. Christine took us finally to Meissen to observe how the famed porcelain is produced and decorated. Prices were stratospheric and even the seconds were ridiculously high - no bargains here.

  Tuesday, August 24 saw us visit Regensburg, a town made famous by astronomer Johannes Kepler. Here we visited Rauscher Tower Clock Manufacture. We were led by young and energetic Christine Rauscher, the daughter of the founder and actual Marketing Director who expertly explained to us all facets of their production as well as giving us a tour of their own museum spanning over 100 years. A most impressive visit - several of us are considering a purchase from Rauscher.

  In Stuttgart we had the pleasure of a specially guided tour of the timepieces and automata in the Wurtembergisches-Landesmuseumled, led by Mrs. Helga Lang, the Curator, while Dr. Klaus Allgoewer expertly explained to us the genius of master clock maker Philip Hahn and his astronomic masterpieces. Our guided tour of the highly automated Mercedes-Benz Factory in Sindelfingen was described by many as the highlight of our trip. A side trip to an IBM building and museum, housing several industrial clocks as well as old IMB tabulating machines, entirely operated by a team of retired IBM aficionados, finally brought an end to a very busy day.

  The next day we finally got to meet Werner and Sophia Schmid, whose courtesy and friendship were second to none. Werner arranged most of our visits in Stuttgart, provided us, free of charge with a local guide, his friend and much liked Roland, and even make sure the press covered our visits – three articles in the local papers described our trip and one even depicted "the beautiful people" in our group. Werner is a NAWCC member of Chapter # 175, who collects industrial time recorders and watchman's clocks and his collection is truly amazing.

  Our next visit to master clockmaker Matthias Naeschke in Haigerloch was considered by many the acme of our trip. Mr. Naeschke, member of the prestigious AHCI, is a certified flutenuhr (organ clock) maker as well as a superb machinist who creates truly extraordinary musical timepieces. One of our members could not resist and a beautiful calendar clock will soon tick happily in the US.

  A last interesting and impressive visits was the German Horology Museum in Furtwangen. We were guided by the museum Director, Prof. Eduard Saluz who was ably helped by docent Ian Fowler; at the end of this tour we all had a fuller understanding and appreciation of German clock making.

  Last, but not least, we attended the annual Antique Clock Fair in Furtwangen, which turned out to be everything we all hoped for. Similar to a NAWCC Regional or even a National, the show, spread over two days, included over 250 tables and 4,000 local and foreign visitors. At the end of the trip we had a "show-and-tell" afternoon where everyone brought and discussed the horologic treasures purchased during this fortnight.

  In reporting our trip we would be remiss were we not to mention the unexpected happenings - the first hand experience with a German hospital of one of our members (happily ending well). An extended coffee break caused by a technical break in Poland, when Peter, our expert bus driver tried to patch-up things while Nick, our Tour Director, went ahead to arrange dinner and overnight accommodations, just in case we did not make it to Berlin that evening. Happily, we had only to postpone our dinner.

  All in all we can say we accomplished on this trip what we have set as our goals - visiting museums and collections, factories and workshops, sampling local cuisine and learning more about the new life in Central Europe. During long inter-city trips we had interesting presentations on the bus about other chapters activities, history, science and astronomy and so much more. We also had a meeting with members of the local organizations, Deutsche Gesselschaft fur Chronometrie in Breitnau, a charming spot in the heart of Black Forest. We look forward to next year's excursion - a cruise and tour of Scandinavia and Russia to be held in July 2005.