Gregg Perry Horological Sciences
Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments
Salem County Historical Society: 2018 House Tour, Post Event Interview
In this four video series, I share my reflections regarding the Open House In Fenwick’s Colony Salem, NJ last week. We had a wonderful turn out, and would like to thank the Salem County Historical Society for featuring the Samuel Shivers House. Seeing the community gather together to celebrate history was a monumental day in Salem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOKvPZMV8i0&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRhZt4C4hsI&t=172s
Gregg Perry: Restoration of the first town clock in America.
This clock mechanism in the First Baptist Church of Salem New Jersey is in disrepair and needs serious attention.
The sky-high clock known as the Salem City Town Clock towers over people traveling down Broadway. A historic clock that hasn’t rung in well over a decade.
The original bell inside the clock rang back on July 4th, 1776, for 24 hours straight to mark the country’s independence.
“It was the first town clock in America, dated to 1701,” said Gregg Perry, a horologist and owner of Perry’s Clock.
The clock has moved locations a few times until it landed at the First Baptist Church in Salem City in 1848.
According to Perry, it hasn’t been taken care of since 1902, back when the city decided they could no longer provide funds for it.
“When not cleaned, the clock just deteriorates,“ said Perry. "The brass, the bronze bushings, and gears wear down to nothing. This is in the most deplorable condition of any one of probably 500 clocks that I’ve ever seen.”
So, with his background in clock restoration, Perry decided to take it upon himself to start the restoration of this piece of Salem County and American history.
“The process of restoration is to climb about 140 foot of ladder and steps, and disassemble this mechanism and bring the pieces down [and] do an assessment on them,” said Perry.
There could be up to 150 to 200 trips up the ladders so it will be extensive.
If they’re too far gone, Perry will have to make them in his shop since parts for this clock are no longer made.
“The actual base has to be reconstructed, repainted, cleaned,“ said Perry. "There [is] a series of electrical hookups. The brass dials are aging, they’re falling out of their glazing.”
He’s donating his time, but the church is hoping to raise funds to help cover the $10,000 to $15,000 worth of materials to get it back up and running.
“It will be a major operation,“ said Perry. "Once the items are cleaned, re-machined, they have to go back up to the tower for reassembly. There could be up to 150 to 200 trips up the ladders so it will be extensive.”
He’s hoping to restore the Salem City Town Clock within the next two to three years so it can ring for many years to come.
Kimberly Kerr, SNJ Today Reporter
Perry’s Conservation Studio Featured in Arts in Bloom May 21-22nd
Perry’s new decorative arts restoration studio sitting on the banks of historic Alloway Lake will be #30 on the Arts in Bloom Tour. He will be explaining and demonstrating his art from an international perspective in the disciplines of wood sculpting (carving), French marquetry, and water gilding.
For more information, please visit : http://bit.ly/1ZcOgXC
Marquetry Class at Wheaton Village in Millville New Jersey
On Father’s Day, Gregg will be teaching an introductory course of French Marquetry. Perry throughout the year is a guest artist at Wheaton Village. The course will encompass drawing selection, the near courses, producing a marquetry sandwich, various methods of cutting, sand shading, inletting the marquetry picture, adherence to substrates, filling the cutlines, and finishing options. Demonstrations will be throughout the day.
Gilding at Wheaton Village-Millville New Jersey
On Saturday, May 1st Gregg Perry lead a full class on water gilding in historic Wheaton Village. The class contained novices, to many graduates with advanced degrees from the Winterthur Conservation Program. The day progressed with history of gilding, processes and procedures and demonstrations throughout the day.
Development of Gilding in France:Louie XIV-XVI-Conservation
Perry has been asked to speak at NAWCC Chapter 1’s last meeting before summer on June 12th. The topic will be “Conservation and Gilding in France”. Sign up early as seating will be limited and in high demand.
Date: June 12th
For additional details see the Chapter 1 site:
http://clockandwatchsociety.org/events/
Winterthur Clock Symposium
Gregg Perry is the National Chapter Representative of Delaware #27 for the upcoming Winterthur Clock Symposium. Perry, the President of #27, will be aiding logistical support at the upcoming symposium, and approximately 10 months ago he made a walking internal survey of the clocks coming up at the symposium with Robert Cheney and Bob Frishman. After the symposium on Sunday, October 9th beginning at 10:30am, Perry will lead a spirited but brief (two hour) conservation symposium at the National Headquarters of NAWCC in Columbia, PA. He will continue his advocacy of conservation to students, professionals and non-practicing professionals who are attending the Winterthur Symposium. Detailed highlights would be gilding, marquetry and film finish conservation will be covered with demonstrations. All attendees should make their reservation early for the bus leaving Winterthur as seating is limited. Afterwards, museum director, Noel Poirier, will conduct a rare, in-depth, and private behind the scenes tour of the museum. NAWCC headquarters and museum comprise one of the worlds largest horological and library collections dedicated to the art and science of timekeeping. This is a rare, once in a lifetime event that these two institutions are mating-up for this combined event.
Here is a link to more information on this event
Keynote Annual Speaker of the Gloucester County Historical Society Meeting
The annual Gloucester County Historical Society meeting took place on Wednesday, April 13th. The focus of the program was “What is Conservation”. Included was a segment on conservation and preservation of houses in Salem County, NJ. Much time was spent explaining how owners of historic 18th century houses in the county basically have maintained exterior shells, not educated in what is internally on a structural basis period correct, they “duty” up their exteriors while keeping the interior a hodge-podge of various styles. They don’t seem to have any thumb for period decorating or preservation techniques. Further discussion continued on dealing with issues in Salem, NJ where city council members, who own rentals which has caused degradation of these 18th century dwellings in the city they represent by putting low income or no income individuals in as tenants, creating HUD circumstances, resulting in a diminished and continually diminishing tax base. Perry is the official conservator for the Gloucester County Historical Museum’s decorative arts holdings and is a consultant for historic preservation in the tri-county area.
Crumbling and City Neglected 18th Century Dwellings of Salem City New Jersey:
