Acknowledgements
A few years ago, a friend and fellow Moderator at Watchuseek made a joking reference to the curator's collection of (mostly vintage) Chinese mechanical and automatic watches, calling it "The Alberta Museum of Chinese Horology". In that very direct way, Chascomm inspired the curator's madness. The name stuck and the Museum was born.
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Over the past number of years now, the AMCHPR and its curator Ron Good have received remarkable assistance and friendship from the China Horologe Association, the governing body for clock and watch production in the PRC.
The AMCHPR especially wants to recognize the assistance of Mr. Li Wei of the CHA. Mr. Li has acted as a one-on-one mentor and teacher to the curator on all of Ron's trips since 2013, after meeting Ron for the first time on Ron's second visit, just before Ron returned to Canada that year. Mr. Li has been kind enough to personally accompany Ron for weeks during the visits since 2013., in many cities from the south to the north of China. During Ron's trips, the CHA and its members and friends have provided Ron with incidental accommodation and many, many meals...hospitality at a world-class level, coupled with sincere friendship, strong support and sage guidance. (Personal note: I couldn't possibly thank Mr. Li and the CHA enough--rdg) |
Ron with Mr. Li Wei / First Meeting, Beijing 2013
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The CHA has directly provided Ron with unprecedented access to top-level business and government executives as well as deep, worker-level access at many of the country's most influential and capable watch and clock manufacturing facilities. As well, in cooperation with the CHA's colleague organization, the Shenzhen Watch & Clock Association, Ron was provided VIP and Press access to the China Clock and Watch Fair in Shenzhen in both 2014 and 2015.
Qi Ran and Ma Rong, taken in Yantai
during a wonderful week travelling together in Shandong. |
Very, very special thanks to Mr. Ma Rong, Hebei Province, China.
His early and continuing friendship and trust, and passion for Chinese watches, was instrumental in developing the curator's sincere love of these vintage Chinese mechanical (VCM) and automatic timepieces. Ma Rong's Taobao shop is here. After a too-long time getting to know each other only by internet chat, the curator was fortunate enough to meet Ma Rong and his very cordial and welcoming wife Qi Ran, in person, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. Ron , Ma Rong and Qi Ran meet every trip since Ron's first visit, and now proudly consider each other as family. ( Thank you, Xiaoma, my brother - 谢谢你 Xiaoma 我的弟弟. 谢谢你，Qi Ran. 谢谢你的友好欢迎到一个遥远的弟弟。感恩的始终。). |
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Ron also wants to recognize and thank Mr. Joel Chan for his continuing friendship, and for the special pleasure of first meeting him face to face for the first time while in Beijing, Ron's second day ever in China. Mr. Chan is a generous, very gracious and good-natured true gentleman and Ron looks forward to seeing him again , always. (我最诚挚的问候和尊重，友谊始终, Joel.) It is not an exaggeration to say that Joel's groundbreaking Micmicmor Vintage Chinese Watch Site opened up a world for western collectors of Chinese watches. Joel provided a first-class, detailed and comprehensive introduction to the history of the Chinese watch industry. In fact, Joel's site was the very first substantial English language "Chinese watch" website, and it's still brilliant. |
Joel Chan,
taken while introducing Ron to the now closed antiques market at Dongtai Lu. Shanghai, 2013 |
Mr. Jiang Wenbo, at his home in Tianjin. 2018
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The curator would also like to thank CHA Member Mr. Jiang Wenbo of the Tianjin Watch & Clock Collector's Association for the highly appreciated access to the organization's Private Museum, and for providing additional fine hospitality, including translators and guides, during the curator's 2013 visit to Tianjin, followed by another warm and welcoming personal visit to his home in 2018. |
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Many thanks as well to CHA Member Mr. David Chang, founder of Watchina. Among other activities, David is an Academy Member of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and the Director of Beijing Collectors' Association.
David is one of China's most prominent horological writers and historians, with a broad knowledge of worldwide watch and clock history. David has provided Ron with expert advice and information, generous hospitality, and numerous introductions and kindnesses. |
Mr. David Chang, taken at the Songzhuang artists colony.
Beijing. 2018 |
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Ron thanks Mr. Edmond K.Y. Hui, Executive Vice-President of the Guangzhou Watch and Clock Association, for friendship, for assistance in numerous ways, for introductions, and for always remembered hospitality. |
Any list like the above will leave out many deserving people, including all those mentioned and seen throughout the website during Ron's travels in China, and his further explorations in the horological world. The AMCHPR hopes all understand how humbly and endlessly grateful Ron is to everyone for every kindness he's ever been shown--and there have been many more than were ever deserved. Thank you.
The AMCHPR would, lastly, like to mention "Soviet", "Chascomm", "Gigfy", "Pawl Buster" aka "Alpha-Getty", "Lysanderiii", "Alfanator" and all the other vintage Chinese mechanical (VCM) wristwatch fans at WatchuSeek whose research and efforts--before the curator ever started--helped him greatly with this ongoing project.
The AMCHPR would, lastly, like to mention "Soviet", "Chascomm", "Gigfy", "Pawl Buster" aka "Alpha-Getty", "Lysanderiii", "Alfanator" and all the other vintage Chinese mechanical (VCM) wristwatch fans at WatchuSeek whose research and efforts--before the curator ever started--helped him greatly with this ongoing project.