Pook and Pook Americana & International Auction 2021

Charles West Wilson of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, died on March 22, 2021. He was the son of Alexander Logan Wilson, a prominent research chemist, and Helen Rebecca West. Helen’s father, Charles H. West, was a founder of Westmoreland Glass Co. Charlie wrote a well-researched and frequently consulted book on the company, Westmoreland Glass (1996), describing its history, aesthetics and glass manufacturing innovations. Charlie graduated from Oberlin College and the Harvard Business School and served in the U.S. Air Force. A wonderful year abroad at Exeter College in England introduced him to antique musical instruments and early bicycles, some of which he brought home. Another joyful time was a year spent in Australia. He worked his way there on a tramp steamer as a chimney sweep, but, once there, held down jobs at several companies, making lifelong friends. In both England and Australia his brand of humor, puns, etc., were much appreciated. Charlie had a lovely tenor voice and was a welcome addition to musical groups wherever he travelled. Charlie had a successful business career and worked most recently for the State of Pennsylvania as a self-insurance analyst. He served locally for many years and until a few weeks prior to his death on the Windsor Township Planning Commission. His true loves, however, were Baroque and early music and 17th and 18th century American and English antiques. His focus was on early spinets and harpsichords, American grandfather clocks, and a wide variety of early American furniture. He had an extraordinary ability both to analyze and restore antiques. Before his death, Charlie completed his Ph.D. dissertation on 17th and 18th century wing spinets at London Metropolitan University. He found that one of the earliest (1688) English spinets, currently in his possession, had belonged to Samuel Pepys. Due to his thesis, the UK will now house the spinet in the Pepys Library in London. Charlie’s three sisters, Alexandra Wilson Jansen, Aimee Wilson Bellows, and Rebecca Baker Logan, and his many friends enjoyed his eccentricities, enthusiasms, and warmth. He was a fixture at almost every Americana auction at Pook & Pook for the past three decades, eager to engage both customers and staff alike in discussions surrounding clocks and other objects he found of interest. Pook & Pook is honored to present this wonderful lifelong collection at auction. 70 The Estate of Charles West Wilson, Red Lion, Pennsylvania | Lots 308 - 393